sharesShare articleAI is proving itself an effective cost-saving tool, far beyond its ability to optimise workflows and life admin. It can also be used to reduce your grocery spend in a number of ways.I decided to test it out, using my most recent supermarket shopping list to see how much I could save by using AI. I used AI to help me find the lowest grocery prices possible, and was pleasantly surprised. Jo AbiAdvertisementThe results really surprised me, helping me save more than just money.The items on my list were: Milk, sliced bread, Carman’s Gluten Free muesli, toilet paper, paper towels, cat litter, Dine, bananas, green apples, zucchini, chicken mince, chicken thighs, microwave rice, potatoes, shampoo and conditioner, Pizza Shapes, Corn Thins, lettuce, carrots, hommus, baby wipes, Butter Soft, broccolini, Tandaco chicken coating mix, Moccona Indulgence, olive oil, and passata.My first mistake was entering this list as is without identifying the exact brands and sizes I wanted.Read moreSupermarket Sleuths: Coles and Woolies launch dualling promotions in bid to win back customer loyaltyThe updated version read: 2L lite milk, Wonder White sliced bread, Carman’s Gluten Free muesli, Quilton toilet paper 24-pack, any paper towels, recycled paper cat litter, Dine cat food, small bananas, green apples, zucchinis, chicken mince, chicken thighs, microwave rice, potatoes, Garnier shampoo and conditioner, Pizza Shapes, Corn Thins, lettuce, carrots, hommus, baby wipes, Butter Soft, broccolini, Tandaco chicken coating mix, Moccona Indulgence, olive oil, Mutti passata.AI is only as good as the prompt used when seeking the information, and for the products I wanted specific brands and sizes of, I needed to be more specific. For those where I didn’t mind which size or version I bought, I could be more general.AdvertisementEntering my shopping list into Gemini, I asked it to find the lowest prices possible on the items. Jo AbiI then asked to organise each of the lowest prices into individual stores. Jo AbiMy AI prompt read: Find the lowest prices for each of these grocery items at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi this week. Then I cut and pasted the list.The result: an itemised list of each product, where I could find the lowest price, and what that price was placed in the categories “Pantry & Household Essentials”, “Fresh Produce & Meat”, and “Health, Beauty & Snacks”.AdvertisementAdvertisementI was also given the AI Pro Tip: “If you’re buying the Carman’s Muesli and Garnier Shampoo, hit Woolworths and Coles respectively, the 50 per cent off deals this week make a massive difference to your total.”I was then asked, “Which of these stores is closest to you, or are you planning a multi-stop run to grab all the specials?” I didn’t answer, because my next prompt read: Organise this under the headings Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi.AdvertisementRead moreAustralia's best single-serve ice cream has been crownedThen, as though this was its own idea, it responded: “To make your shopping trip easier, I’ve reorganised the list by store. This highlights the best value items at each location based on current specials and everyday low prices.”I do my grocery shopping at a centre that has all three stores, which makes it easier for me to take advantage of weekly specials. I received the following organised lists and encouraging comments from AI:AdvertisementAdvertisementColesBest for: Bread, half-price hair care, and specific pantry specials.Wonder White Sliced Bread: $4.00 (On special)Garnier Shampoo & Conditioner: $4.50 (Half-price special)Dine Cat Food: $0.95 (When buying 10 for $9.00)Mutti Passata: $2.50 (On special)Chicken Thighs: $14.50/kgIceberg Lettuce: $2.50Broccolini: $3.00 (Per bunch)Butter Soft (500g): $5.50Tandaco Chicken Coating: $2.30WoolworthsAdvertisementBest for: Health food deals, coffee, and bulk paper products.Carman’s GF Muesli: $5.00 (Half-price special)Moccona Indulgence (100g): $11.00 (On special)Quilton Toilet Paper (24-pk): $12.50Pizza Shapes: $2.00Chicken Mince (500g): $6.00Lite Milk (2L): $3.55Green Apples: $4.50/kgCarrots (1kg bag): $1.50AldiBest for: Staples, produce, and pet supplies.AdvertisementAdvertisementRecycled Paper Cat Litter (15L): $13.99Microwave Rice Pouches: $1.60Paper Towels (2-pk): $1.89Olive Oil (1L): $14.00Baby Wipes (80-pk): $1.95Small "Lunchbox" Bananas: $3.90/kgPotatoes (2kg bag): $4.00Zucchinis: $5.90/kgCorn Thins: $2.00Hommus (200g): $2.20I then asked it to order the Coles and Woolworths items online for delivery to my home, which would leave me with only Aldi to visit. However, I was told: “I can’t directly log into your accounts or process payments for you (my digital hands are tied when it comes to your credit card!), but I can make the process significantly faster.“As of May 2026, both Coles and Woolworths have updated their apps to allow for ‘Smart List’ imports.”AdvertisementClose up of unrecognizable customer checking her receipt after purchasing groceries in the supermarket - Home shopping concepts GettyAll very useful advice. Taking these steps has saved me a good hour, during which I would normally sit down with my grocery list, visit all the apps and manually figure out where to find the lowest prices possible for the items I needed that week.This is only the beginning of how AI can help shoppers save. You can also seek help building lower-cost meals, ask about swapping expensive ingredients for cheaper alternatives, enter your list and ask it to identify unnecessary purchases (although, this could feel a bit judgemental), and request tips to reduce food waste.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother useful prompt could be: Here is my weekly shopping list. Rewrite it to reduce the cost by 30 per cent while keeping it healthy for my family, or Turn this shopping list into home brands or Aldi products only.Then there are even more savings to be had.Gemini AI offered further savings tips, unprompted. Jo AbiBut remember not to thank the AI for its help, because a. It’s a robot and b. That’s a little creepy.AdvertisementAI is most helpful when it comes to saving on grocery prices by using a platform that is independent of individual retailers, so I used Gemini.AI features within the individual supermarket apps can only assist you in making purchases from that retailer, which isn’t as effective as shopping across multiple retailers has been proven to be.The humble ‘bowlo’ is making a comeback in a sign of the timesThe unexpected winner in the latest supermarket grocery price comparison'What I wish I knew before it happened to me'SponsoredBendigo BankThe week my plans changed and how I learned to make my money adaptSponsoredBendigo Bank