A new agentic hub for shopping across Google is on the horizon.
At Google I/O, three new features for Google Shopping were unveiled. These updates aim to enhance the AI shopping experience by connecting retailers and setting boundaries to prevent AI agents from acting independently.
Perhaps the most exciting feature is Universal Cart, soon available across Google platforms like Gemini, YouTube, and Gmail. This feature consolidates products added to various carts, such as Target or Amazon, into a single Google cart for easy access.
“The moment you add a product, the cart works in the background to find deals, price drops, give insights on price history, and alert when items are back in stock,” said Vidhya Srinivasan, VP/CM, Google Ads and Commerce.
Universal Cart will be available in the US this summer, with Gmail and YouTube support to follow.
Additionally, the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) was announced, enabling AI agents to make purchases, order goods, and reserve accommodations. Initial partners include eShopify, Amazon, Walmart, Stripe, Salesforce, and Meta. The feature will launch soon in Canada, Australia, and the UK.
With AI’s increasing power in making transactions, Google introduced Agent Payments Protocol 2 (AP2) to allow users to set limitations on AI purchases. AP2 also provides a traceable paperwork trail to assist with returns or order issues.
These shopping updates build on last year’s I/O announcements, which introduced Google’s “Try it on” feature.
For comprehensive Google I/O updates, visit the Mashable Google I/O live blog for news on Gemini, Chrome, and Android.