Less coupon math, more AI: What’s new for China’s 18th Singles’ Day

AI Summary

China's Singles' Day shopping season is seeing consumers focus on fewer, higher-value purchases and make use of discounts, amid reports of reduced spare cash. The article highlights a Shanghai shopper's purchase of an iPhone 18 Pro Max through Alibaba's Tmall marketplace and describes AI as part of this year's retail changes.

For Sunny He, a 32-year-old Shanghai resident, this year’s Singles’ Day shopping season culminated in a single, high-value purchase: a 12,000-yuan (US$1,797) iPhone 18 Pro Max, sweetened by a 300-yuan voucher on Alibaba Group Holding’s Tmall marketplace. “For me, Double 11 definitely isn’t as lively as before because I have less spare cash than in previous years,” He said. “Even so, I’ll take advantage of this chance for products that I couldn’t bear to buy at full price, like a new...