Google augments AI shopping with conversational search, agentic checkout and an AI that calls stores for you

Google is rolling out a series of AI shopping updates just before the holidays. The company unveiled a host of new tools and features on Thursday, including conversational shopping in Google Search, new shopping features in the Gemini app, agentic checkout and even an AI tool that can call local stores to find out if the product you want is available.

The company believes the additions will help improve the online shopping experience, which is still a grind today, Vidhya Srinivasan, VP and GM of advertising and commerce at Google, explained in a press conference ahead of the launch.

“We believe it really doesn’t have to be this annoying, and that shopping should (and can feel) much more natural and easier,” she said. “The idea here is that we want to keep all the fun parts of shopping, like the browsing, the serendipitous discovery and all that, but then skip all the annoying, difficult parts.”

One update will allow consumers to ask shopping questions in AI mode, Google’s conversational search feature that lets you use natural language searches in a chatbot-style interface. The answers are tailored to your question and the chatbot provides images when you need visual inspiration, along with other details such as price, reviews and available stock.

So if you were looking for cozy sweaters in fall colors, you will see photos of the available options. But if you’re comparing items like skin care products, Google might show insights in a comparison table instead.

Google noted that the AI ​​mode is powered by its Shopping Graph, which contains more than 50 billion product listings, 2 billion of which are updated every hour, and said the inventory information you see is usually up to date.

With a new store update, the Gemini app can provide fleshed-out ideas in response, rather than just text suggestions, in response to store-related questions. This is currently only available to US users.

The company confirmed that consumers using AI mode will see sponsored listings, but because the features are still experimental, these ads won’t appear in the Gemini mobile app yet.

Notably, Google is introducing agentic checkout within Google Search in the US, including in AI mode. The feature is currently compatible with merchants like Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and select Shopify stores.

To use agentic checkout, you can start by tracking the price of an item so that you’re notified if the price drops and falls within your budget. You can then choose to let Google buy the item for you from the seller’s website using Google Pay. The company says it will always ask your permission first and have you confirm your purchase and shipping information.

“This is useful for shoppers because they don’t have to constantly check if the item they want is on sale. And it’s great for retailers because it brings back the customer who might otherwise have moved on,” said Lilian Rincon, VP of product management for Google Shopping, during the briefing. “Agentic Checkout is built on Google’s trusted Shopping graph as well as G Pay, so you can rest assured you’re seeing accurate results and that your payment information is safe,” she noted.

Another AI feature can call businesses on your behalf to find out if a store has a product on sale, how much it costs, and if there are any promotions.

The feature is built on Google’s Duplex technology, introduced in 2018, as well as its Shopping Graph and payments infrastructure. After you provide information about the product you are looking for, the AI ​​will call the local stores and ask questions about the product. He will then contact you with a summary of the findings.

This feature is now rolling out in the US for specific categories such as toys, health and beauty products, and electronics. To use this feature, you can search for products “near me” and then use the “Let Google call” option. The AI ​​then guides you through questions about the items you are looking for.

The company says it takes into account how sellers will experience these calls, ensuring the chatbot doesn’t call too often and is clear about the questions it asks. Merchants can also choose to opt out of receiving such calls. Those who don’t will first hear Google reveal that it’s an AI calling on behalf of a customer, and only proceed when the call recipient says it’s okay.

Google executives planned to demonstrate the technology at Wednesday’s press conference, but Wi-Fi issues on their end forced them to abandon the demo before it was completed.