Consumer News: Let AI help you shop (without letting it spend your money)

It's a push for federal control over AI

• Executive order empowers federal government to challenge state AI regulations

• States risk losing broadband and other funding if laws remain in place

• Critics warn move favors tech industry without national consumer safeguards

President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at curbing state laws that regulate artificial intelligence, a move that could invalidate dozens of state-level consumer protection and AI safety measures while consolidating regulatory authority at the federal level.

The order grants sweeping power to the U.S. attorney general to sue states and overturn laws deemed inconsistent with what the administration calls the United States global A.I. dominance. It also directs federal agencies to withhold funding for broadband and other infrastructure projects from states that refuse to roll back their AI regulations.

"Got to be one source"

Trump has repeatedly argued that the U.S. must lead the world in artificial intelligence and has criticized state laws as creating a fragmented regulatory environment that could slow innovation.

Its got to be one source, Trump said Thursday in the Oval Office, flanked by senior officials including David Sacks, the administrations AI and cryptocurrency czar. You cant go to 50 different sources.

The president framed the order as essential to keeping the U.S. ahead of China in the global race to develop advanced AI technologies. The directive seeks to replace state-level oversight with a single federal framework that would supersede local rules.

With todays executive order, Donald Trump is doing his best to take care of his Big Tech buddies and donors. This reward to Big Tech is a disgraceful invitation to reckless behavior by the worlds largest corporations and a complete override of the federalist principles that Trump and MAGA claim to venerate," said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen.

Tech-friendly agenda accelerates

The executive order is the latest in a series of actions signaling Trumps growing alignment with the AI industry. In recent months, he has signed orders limiting regulation, expanding companies access to federal data and easing the construction of data centers and other infrastructure needed to power AI systems.

Trump has also moved to loosen restrictions on exporting advanced chips that drive AI development and has publicly praised technology executives. Sacks, a Silicon Valley investor, has emerged as a central figure in shaping the administrations AI policy.

Legal challenges expected

The order has already drawn broad, bipartisan criticism and is expected to face swift legal challenges from states and consumer advocacy groups. Legal experts say the move may overstep executive authority, arguing that only Congress has the power to override state laws.

Critics also warn that eliminating state protections without replacing them with strong federal standards could leave consumers vulnerable.

If Mr. Trump succeeds in neutering state laws, he should instead offer a robust national standard on A.I. regulations, said Wes Hodges, acting director of the Center for Technology and the Human Person at the conservative Heritage Foundation. Doing so before establishing commensurate national protections is a carve-out for Big Tech.

Consumer risks remain unresolved

The debate comes as generative AI tools capable of mimicking human voices, writing and images have rapidly proliferated. While the technology has fueled innovation, it has also been linked to , deceptive deepfakes and instances in which chatbots have provided harmful advice to minors.

Consumer advocates say many state laws targeted by the order were designed to address those risks, raising concerns that the administrations push for AI dominance may come at the expense of public safety and accountability.

An expert explains how to save smart, skip the debt traps, and make AI tools work for younot against you

• Last-minute pressure leads to overspending:From impulse buys to paying extra for shipping, shoppers often make avoidable mistakes as Christmas approaches.

• Buy Now, Pay Later can be a hidden debt trap especially for consumers already feeling financial strain heading into 2026.

• A strategic plan (and realistic expectations) can save you money including re-evaluating gift lists and timing purchases to get the best deals.

If youre staring down your holiday list and realizing you still have more gifts to buy than days left on the calendar, youre not alone.

The final stretch before Christmas is when even the savviest shoppers start to panic stores get crowded, prices feel unpredictable, and its easy to fall into the trap of overspending just to cross names off your list. And with many families already feeling the squeeze from higher prices, that last-minute scramble can quickly turn into unnecessary debt or a Buy Now, Pay Later plan youll still be paying off long after the tree comes down.

To help shoppers navigate these high-pressure weeks, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Bobby Ghoshal, CEO of Dupe.com, an AI-powered tool that helps consumers find lower-priced replicas of popular products.

Ghoshal shared smart strategies to stay on budget and avoid the biggest last-minute shopping pitfalls.

Gift giving should be a fun experience and not an obligation, Ghoshal said. If you can have honest conversations with your friends and family about your budget constraints and aim to set a limit for gifts exchanged, that would take the stress away for most. That conversation is probably a little late for this year, but its important to set realistic expectations in advance.

Avoid the spending traps

With just a few weeks left until Christmas, its important that consumers dont panic or fall into the most common spending traps. Ghoshal shared his top three traps that consumers most often fall into during this time of year:

• Impulse Buys/Panic shopping: Oftentimes, as Christmas nears, we see a lot of consumers make purchasing decisions they likely wouldnt make if they werent under the gun. In this case, its important to take a breath, reevaluate your list and go in with a plan. If youre struggling with gift ideas for the acquaintances in your life, consider purchasing items that come with gift card bundles to help save money and stress. Sure, some people think theyre impersonal, but most of us like to choose our own items.

• Agreeing to Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): There are some perks to BNPL programs, but if youre on a tight budget, I advise you to reconsider. The economy is pretty unstable at the moment and if youre not absolutely certain you can make these payments back in time, youre risking debt that could follow you well into 2026. BNPL programs also offer those with limited time to find the perfect gift the delusion that its okay to overpay because its smaller amounts at the time. Thats a trap we should all avoid. Make your budget and stick to it.

• Overpaying on shipping: Were getting closer to where consumers either wont make shipping deadlines or will be required to pay more to receive their gifts in time. Sometimes it does make sense to pay for shipping, but this is something we can and should avoid. If youre going to spend the price of another gift just to ship one, go in-store and purchase yourself. None of your family members will expect a gift if it means adding to your debt.

Budgeting tips for overspenders

If youve already spent way too much money this holiday season and the stress is rising, Ghoshal has some advice to help combat overspending.

Put the credit card down immediately and reevaluate your shopping list and the gifts you already acquired, Ghoshal suggested. Did you buy too much for your mom that would also be appropriate for your sister? Then move some to her pile.

Once you take inventory of your debt and the gifts you already have, make a list of what you actually need. Are there any corners you can cut? Can you buy gift card bundles appropriate for multiple recipients? Are there items that come with a gift with purchase that you can give to someone you feel obligated to buy for but dont know on a personal level?

Timing can also play a role here. Ghoshal suggests thinking about your social calendar and planning purchases accordingly.

Are there people in your life that you wont have the chance to exchange with until after-Christmas? he said. I would consider holding off purchasing these items until the post-Christmas sales begin at which point many items will see deeper discounts as retailers aim to clear out inventory in time for the new year.

An expert warns that scammers are getting bolder and lonelier consumers are more vulnerable than ever

• Romance are surging this holiday season, with Avast reporting a 64% increase in blocked dating scam attacks and high rates of victims falling for them.

• Scammers use emotional manipulation especially loneliness to build trust quickly, then pivot into requests for money, gift cards, crypto, or emergency travel help.

• Experts urge consumers to pause, verify, and protect themselves, watching for early money asks, avoiding quick emotional escalation, and using tools like reverse image searches and privacy settings.

If youre looking for connection during the holidays, youre definitely not alone and unfortunately, scammers know that too.

Romance tend to surge this time of year, and new data from Avast shows just how quickly the problem is growing. The company has seen a 64% jump in blocked dating scam attacks compared to last year, and the ripple effects are real: 40% of people using dating apps say theyve been targeted, with more than four in ten falling for the deception.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Director of AI and Innovation at Avast, who explained that this season is prime time for romance scammers because emotions run high and isolation can make people more likely to take risks. In fact, one in five people admit they make riskier online decisions when theyre feeling lonely a vulnerability scammers are quick to exploit.

Warning signs to look for

Sanchez-Rola shared the top three warning signs consumers can look for to avoid falling victim to these romance .

These include:

1. Money enters the conversation early. Scammers often invent a crisis, like medical bills, a stranded trip, or frozen funds, and ask for help via gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers, which make it nearly impossible to recover your money once sent.

2. They avoid video chats or real-world meetups. Theres always a reason they cant hop on a call or meet in person. Many claim to be overseas for work or the military to buy time and build trust. However, even if they do offer video, dont assume its proof. AI tools now make it surprisingly easy to create convincing deepfake videos without advanced technical skills.

3. They move fast emotionally. If someone is expressing deep love or planning your future together within days of chatting, especially without having met, youre likely being manipulated.

Take a pause

Because many scammers take advantage of victims vulnerability, Sanchez-Rola has a big piece of advice for consumers: take a pause.

One of the most powerful mental habits is pausing before you respond, especially to emotionally charged messages, he said. Creating a moment of space to fact-check or consult a trusted friend to vet messages can break that emotional spell. Its about training yourself to pause and verify instead of react and regret.

Protect yourself ahead of time

If you find yourself scrolling dating apps this holiday season, there are some proactive steps to take to protect yourself against scammers.

Preparation goes a long way, Sanchez-Rola said. A few smart moves include:

1. Tighten your privacy settings on social media and dating apps. Dont overshare early on.

2. Do a reverse image search of profile pics - many scammers reuse photos from modeling sites or other profiles.

3. Loop in a friend. Telling someone you trust that you're talking to someone new gives you an outside perspective and a second opinion if anything feels off.

Order-by dates: the fine print Santa forgot to mention

• Your real deadline is each stores order by date for Dec. 24 delivery, not Christmas Day

• As cutoffs pass, pivot to same-day or pickup options to dodge rush-shipping fees

• Watch for exceptions: third-party sellers, heavy freight items, and custom/engraved gifts usually cut off earlier

If youre still adding things to online carts this week, your real deadline isnt Christmas, its each stores shipping cutoff. Most major retailers now post hard order by dates to get packages to your door by Dec. 24. Miss those by even an hour and youre suddenly paying for overnight shipping or scrambling to setup store pickup.

Below is a quick guide to 10 major retailers last day to order dates for Christmas delivery, plus some smart shipping hacks for each store.

Amazon

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Non-Prime / standard shipping: around Dec. 16
• Prime shipping: Dec. 22 for most Prime-eligible items

Shipping tips at Amazon:

Use No-Rush for freebies. If you have plenty of time to get your gifts by Christmas, consider selecting the No-Rush shipping option and youll score a free $1 digital credit that you can use to buy music and movies.

Group orders to hit the threshold. If youre not a Prime member, let things sit in your cart until youre over the free-shipping minimum of $35.

Walmart

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Standard shipping: Dec. 23 at 12:30 p.m. local time (for arrives by Christmas on eligible items)
• Same-day pickup & delivery: Dec. 24 by 12 p.m.
• Express delivery: Dec. 24 by 5 p.m. local time in many areas

Shipping tips at Walmart:

Watch out for 3^rd party sellers. Keep in mind that 3^rd party sellers on Walmart do not play bythe same rules and will not honor Walmarts Christmas cutoff date.

Lean into free pickup. As wenear the Christmas deadline, many items will start to say after Christmas delivery. But items that are in-stock at your local Walmart still qualify for same-day pickup, right up until Christmas Eve.

Target

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Standard shipping: Target recommends Dec. 18
• Premium/expedited: Dec. 22 for many ZIP codes
• Same-day via Target app (pickup or delivery): available through Dec. 23, with stores open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 24

Shipping tips at Target:

Late delivery trick. When checking out from Target.com, youll often see one item holding up your entire order from arriving on time. Try removing that item and your entire order should then arrive before Christmas. At that point, it's smart to opt to pick-up the slowpoke item via in-store or curbside pickup.

Use Targets free Drive Up to avoid impulse buys. Try ordering in the app and picking up curbside if you tend to overspend on impulses purchases. Youll stay out of the aisles completely and not be tempted.

Best Buy

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Standard shipping on most items: Dec. 17
• Expedited shipping: Dec. 21

Shipping tip at Best Buy:

Open-box + local pickup = shipping-free upgrade. Before you buy a TV and hope it gets to you by Christmas, check out their Open Box and "Pickup at this store" options. Toggle those two options on, and you just might find an Excellent open-box version of the TV you want at the Best Buy near you.

Macys

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Standard shipping: Dec. 21
• Express shipping: Dec. 22
• Same-Day delivery: Dec. 24 at 10am local time.

Shipping tips at Macys:

Consider Star Rewards.Sign-up for free and get free shipping on $39 right away. The threshold is $49to qualify for free shipping without joining.

Let the store special order your size. If the size or color you want is not in-stock at your Macys, ask an employee to special order it and theyll have it delivered to your house for free.

Kohls

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Standard shipping: Dec. 17
• 2-day shipping: Dec. 19
• 1-day shipping: Dec. 20
• Same day/In-Store: Dec. 24 by 6 pm local time.

Shipping tips at Kohls:

Always log-in first. Kohls will sometimes show Rewards or Kohls card-holders better free-shipping thresholds. Always log-in first to see where you stand and if you need to pad your cart a little to qualify for free delivery.

Use buy-online-pickup-in-store. It locks in online coupon pricing and lets you return stuff in-store without paying any return shipping fees.

Home Depot

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Most shipped gifts: Dec. 17 is the key date for Christmas arrival. While not official, this is just good rule-of-thumb with Home Depot.

Shipping tips at Home Depot:

Why so early? The December 17th cutoff date does seem early compared to many other stores on this list. But due to the size and weight of many items at Home Depot, they need more time for delivery. Smaller items at Home Depot wont need as much time and you can probably order up until the 21^st, just pay attention at checkout.

Lowes

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Most shipped orders: Dec. 16 (expect up to 7 days for delivery)

Shipping tips at Lowes:

Similar to The Home Depot. Due to the size of many items, and the distance between distribution centers, I recommend wrapping up your online Christmas shopping at Lowes by December 16^th.

Compare same-day pickup items. If youre tempted by rush shipping, see whether the same tool, heater, or light set is available for free same- or next-day pickup instead.

Apple

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Most in-stock products: Dec. 22 (except engraving or custom builds)

Shipping tips at Apple:

Customize items later. Engraving and customizations can throw a major wrench in your delivery schedule. For this reason, opt for a standard device configuration, then take it back to an Apple Store after Christmas to get it personalized.

Consider external factors. While its great that Apple gives you until the 22^nd, keep in mind that factors like weather could easily trip up your delivery. Shop earlier to avoid this and try not to procrastinate too much.

Costco

Last day to order for Dec. 24 delivery

• Most standard shipping items: Around Dec. 1820
• 2-Day delivery eligible items (CostcoGrocery / select items): Around Dec. 2022
• Same-day delivery (Instacart-powered, groceries only): Often Dec. 24, but depends on local slots and demand.

Always plug in your ZIP code and check the items estimated delivery date at checkout. Thats the date you should trust, not some generic holiday chart you might find.

Shipping tips at Costco:

Try flipping between delivery and warehouse pickup. Some electronics, laptops, and gift items at Costco are available both online and in your local warehouse. If shipping is cutting it close or says after Christmas, check whether the same item is stocked at your nearby club.

Watch out for white-glove and freight items. Big stuff like TVs, furniture, and appliances often use freight delivery, which can add several days to your delivery, even if the website says 23 business days.