I've been shopping online for 25 years but I had no idea how ChatGPT and Gemini could change the experience

ChatGPT and Claude both selected this Amazon Echo Pop. In fact, there are numerous Amazon products in this list. ChatGPT, in particular, appears to fancy the smiley-logo-company's gear.

The Pop was already the cheapest Echo smart speaker, but this 25%-off deal at Amazon makes it particularly enticing. It's low profile, smart, and can control countless other devices. The black color and minimalist design lack the entertainment value I was going for (maybe choose white), but I think my friends might like the gift all the same.

This was Gemini's first choice and a real winner. The Victrola Willow – Retro Wood Bluetooth Radio fits the price, size, and charm factor, all in a perfect night-stand or kitchen-counter-friendly package.

Nothing beats nostalgia when you're trying to warm the heart of a gift recipient, and this Bluetooth radio has that in spades. It looks like it was transported from 1960, but it's still ready to work with your smartphone or modern AM/FM radio stations. This huge 36% discount on Amazon just makes you want to travel back in time.

Claude AI and ChatGPT also chose Amazon's night-stand-ready Echo Spot alarm clock as a good gift. It fits the bill on price, size, and technology, but is it really, as ChatGPT claims, "cute"?

Still, I like the simple, purpose-built 2.83-inch touch screen and just-loud-enough speaker, which is good for music and getting the morning news and weather direct from Alexa. For the friend who has trouble waking up, this is a very smart gift.

There are a couple of video doorbells in my AI shopping recommendations from Claude AI and ChatGPT. They're very affordable right now and certainly smart enough (some even bake in a little AI), but they're not what I'd call fun. On the other hand, giving a friend the peace of mind that comes with a video doorbell that can let you see who's at the door from anywhere in the world, includes night vision to catch raccoons in the act, and motion detection to alert you when packages have arrived...well, perhaps you can't put a price on that.

The Blink Video Doorbell is already one of the most affordable video doorbells on the market, and this huge discount makes it an even better value. I like that it can work with just three AAA lithium batteries (they last up to 2 years), and includes features like night vision and two-way audio. Your friends should see this as a thoughtful gift, though I'm not sure how they'll feel about the Blink subscription they'll need to add for cloud-video storage.

ChatGPT gets credit for finding what I consider an amazing video doorbell deal, the Blink Mini 2 indoor cam 2-pack(!). Again, not cute or whimsical, but it's always nice to be able to check in on the interior of your home when you're away. If your friend has dogs or cats, this gift may be especially appreciated.

For essentially the price of one mini cam, you get two capable of motion detection, 1080p live video, and a built-in spotlight.

Streaming sticks are neither fun nor whimsical in and of themselves, but this Roku Streaming Stick 4K does open your 4K TV to a world of entertainment, including dramas, reality TV, comedies, sports, and an endless supply of movies. The 50% discount that ChatGPT dug up is an excellent deal for a fast streaming device with not only one of the best interfaces in the business but also easily one of my favorite remotes of all time.

Claude AI found this Amazon Fire Stick 4K deal for me and promised, "tiny device, huge entertainment value!" which is a fact. So what if it's jammed behind your TV for you never to look at again? You will spend many hours holding the Alexa-ready remote it comes with. Aside from the great discount, I think the main selling point of this streaming device may be its ability to respond to voice queries and bring back entertainment that matches the prompt. Also, 50% off is nothing to sneeze at.

Google Gemini was not immune to Amazon gadget charms, choosing this Echo Glow smart lamp for kids (was $29.99 now $16.99 at Amazon), which at least has some whimsy to it. The colorful lighting cues that it provides can help kids know when it's time to wind down and go to bed, or simply provide ambient lighting when they're watching TV or playing games. If you do give this to someone with a child at home, it's nice to know you're not handing them a device that listens and talks to them. Parents control it through their Alexa app on their smartphone (or another Alexa device). Oh, and yes, I love that it's 50% off, too.

Okay, now we're talking whimsy. ChatGPT finally hit it out of the park with this fun suggestion: the POCOCO Galaxy Star Projector (was $125.99 now $79.99 at Amazon)

It's a bedroom planetarium that will whisk you to the stars as you gently drift off to sleep. This elaborate night light is a bit more analog than I might like, using slides to project high-resolution galaxy images on your ceiling (or your tent: it can work on batteries, too).

It's also not the newest gadget, but the Galaxy Star Projector does feel like a one-of-a-kind gift, and now it's 37% off. Good find, ChatGPT.

This might count as one of the more thoughtful AI gift suggestions. AirTags aren't fun, but they're tiny and quite helpful for tracking and finding lost stuff. You just pop one in, say, your luggage, and then check in on your iPhone's Find My to see exactly where it is. AirTags use a network of Apple devices to check in so they can be found.

Claude AI tracked down an AirTag deal, but not this one., In fact, its information seems out of date. The deal listed is just $5 off. The Apple AirTag deal I'm publishing here is a 31% discount for a single AirTag at Amazon. It's a good deal. At least Claude AI helped me find it.

This Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Film Camera ticks all the boxes. It's small, techy, fun, whimsical, and could spark some joy. Plus, it's 11% off right now on Amazon. This is just one of the home runs Google Gemini hit when I asked for fun tech gadget gifts.

I like this one because it's a near-perfect instant camera, and by instant, I mean it spits out photos as soon as you take them, and then your friends can keep them forever. Our 2023 review called it, "our top recommendation for instant photography on a budget."

Just think, every time your friend takes it out to use at a party, they'll also think of you.

How did we get this far without a portable Bluetooth speaker in the mix? Once again. Google Gemini comes to the rescue with this last-generation JBL Go 3, which is now 30% off at Amazon.

It features great, punchy sound and is essentially waterproof. I was looking for fun, and I got "beach-ready" audio. Battery life, at five hours, is not amazing, but it'll get you through an afternoon on the sand.

I like that Google Gemini rounded up a portable charger for us, but the price, this product, and Google's description don't quite add up. Gemini mentions a "futuristic orb shape". Anker doesn't really have an Orb-like product in this line.

Even so, that result led me to this deal on the Anker 622 Magnetic Battery (MagGo), 5,000mAh Foldable Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger with Stand. It's currently 42% off on Amazon and can attach to your MagSafe-ready iPhone for max charge and portability, or serve as a stand for your iPhone while you charge.

The 5,000mAh battery should give you at least an extra day of charge time. Okay. It's not fun, but portable battery packs are always useful and, I'm sure, appreciated.