Yes, true on all points. Many people do not recognize when they are being sold to and also when they are being manipulated to spend more. I personally will never enter a store without a list of what I need. Then as I shop if I do see something that looks worth trying, I weigh whether it is worth the price. I am the exception rather than the rule though as a shopper :) I personally do not enjoy shopping, so I like to complete my list and get out.

Hahaha! I will tell you, my own mother (70s) buys rotisserie chicken because it is cheaper per pound of meat than a raw chicken and is just as good or better than if she bought the same size chicken and roast it herself in her own oven. Something to know about my mom is she is frugal. She coupons, and will always seek out the best deal. Whoever wrote that WSJ article truly has no idea what it is to budget is what I see. Additionally, some of the neighborhoods that were listed, are some of the richest parts of NY, so of course people who have money will also go out and buy easy meals rather than spend time cooking.

My sole use for AI has been troubleshooting computer issues. I will say that AI often does a better job than first line tech support when prompted correctly. That being said, I am a tech nerd who knows more than the average computer user that is not in the IT industry. There will always be a reason for human tech support tiers for people who cannot prompt AI correctly, but still need their stuff to work. I personally don’t want AI invading my life any further.