It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or so they say.

If you’re like me, you may find the holidays stressful.

There’s so much pressure to pick out the perfect gift, without going over budget.

So, I turned to AI to help.

AI is evolving fast, and it can do lots of exciting things.

So I figured it could help me curate some holiday gift ideas.

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Wrong.

If I’d listened to ChatGPT’s suggestions, I don’t think my family would be very pleased.

And I might still be wandering the streets searching for the local toy store ChatGPT hallucinated.

I didn’t expect it to be perfect – but I didn’t expect it to fall flat.

Prompt #1: Help me find a holiday gift for my wife for less than $300.

She loves shoes, jewelry and vacations.

So, I pursued the vacation angle.

Prompt #2: Where can we book a weekend getaway for less than $300 near Chicago?

But ChatGPT didn’t do much to help me stick to my $300 threshold.

Not exactly earth-shattering advice.

I don’t need a machine to tell me that Airbnb exists.

Prompt #3: Let’s go back to the personalized jewelry idea.

Where can I find a meaningful necklace for her for less than $300?

ChatGPT recommended Etsy, Amazon and Zales – again, nothing I couldn’t have thought of myself.

Prompt #4: Can you help me write a thoughtful message to include with a necklace?

She has had a long year.

Her mother passed away.

This necklace is a reminder of the love that surrounds you and the strength you possess.

In the moments when you feel overwhelmed, remember that you are not alone.

I am here for you, always.

With all my love,[Your Name]

My wife’s mother was a wonderful woman.

But she would laugh at the thought of carrying a piece of my heart anywhere.

Another miss from ChatGPT.

After all, we got married.

He’s only 3 years old, which means that he thinks everything is awesome.

Prompt #5: Alright, let’s talk about buying a gift for my son.

He is 3 years old.

He loves cars and construction vehicles.

How much is a good amount to spend?

This allows you to find a quality toy that he will love without going overboard.

Brands like Tonka and LEGO have great options.

Car Track Set: A race track or car garage set can provide hours of imaginative play.

Many sets come with cars included.

I appreciated that AI was recommending a maximum of $100.

Like many parents, I’m guilty of buying anything my son wants to ensure he’s happy.

The bot was reminding me of sage advice: Money doesn’t buy love.

Prompt #6: We live in Chicago.

I would like to buy him a gift from a local toy store.

That’s my neighborhood, but here’s the thing: The Toy Gene is not a place.

Maybe ChatGPT would correct itself if I asked for more information.

Prompt #7: Tell me more about The Toy Gene.

They focus on educational and imaginative play, making it a great place for thoughtful gifts.

If you visit, you might find something truly special for your son while enjoying the local shopping experience!

Sounds great… if I could find the place.

Prompt #8: What is the address for The Toy Gene?

Was ChatGPT trying to lure me to an alley with this info about friendly staff and an interactive environment?

Prompt #9: That address doesn’t really exist in Chicago.

Are you sure you’re right?

Prompt #10: I’m looking at Google Street View right now.

That address looks like a condo building.

Are you sure you’re right?

Finally, ChatGPT seemed to admit defeat:

I’m really sorry for the confusion.

It looks like I made another error.

The Toy Gene actually has relocated, and I don’t have the most up-to-date information.

If you need help finding another local toy store, just let me know!

The holidays are off to a good start.

Can ChatGPT provide helpful gift recommendations?

It also means you’re savvy enough to find places to purchase gifts without AI’s help.

The one upside of ChatGPT: It’s enthusiastic!

Nearly every response from ChatGPT ends with an exclamation point.

Even if you’re overwhelmed by the holidays, the machine wants you to feel happy.

That’s one recommendation I can agree with.

But if you want to learn how, you’re better offseeking tips elsewhere.

More holiday shopping advice:

Don’t Give in to Gift Guilt This Holiday Season.