Google brings agentic AI-based conversational shopping to search
Google is launching several artificial intelligence-enabled updated to its digital shopping offering, just in time for the holidays.
The tech giant recently began letting consumers in the U.S. use a new solution called "AI Mode" that enables them to describe what they’re looking for — like the way they would talk to a friend — without having to sort through filters, to ask shopping-related questions conversationally on its site and get a range of visual results
Now, Google is providing conversational search, allowing customers to describe what they’re looking for as they would say it to a friend and get a response with relevant shopping data.
When customers ask AI Mode a shopping question, they will receive an organized response that brings together rich visuals and all the details they need (like price, reviews and inventory information), helping them decide what to buy.
AI Mode responses are tailored to specific customer questions and formatted for their needs, such as shoppable images and comparison tables with a side-by-side view of considerations specific to a desired product.
AI Mode is supported by the Google Shopping Graph, a real-time dataset of products, inventory, and merchants with more than 45 billion listings, in-stock inventory data from a range of retailers and Google Gemini generative AI models, with results updated every two hours.
[READ MORE: Google aids mobile shopping with AI image generation]
Agentic checkout
A new Google agentic AI checkout feature is starting to roll out now. Customers can track an item’s price using the Google price-tracking feature, down to the specific size, color and amount they want to spend. They will get a notification when the price falls within their budget.
If the retailer is eligible, Google now provides shoppers the the option to have Google buy it for them on the retailer’s site using Google Pay. Google will ask for customer permission first and only buy after they have confirmed the purchase and shipping details. This feature is built on Google’s Shopping Graph and payments infrastructure.
Agentic checkout is starting to roll out now on Google search, including in AI Mode, from eligible U.S. retailers including Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and select Shopify merchants, with more coming soon.
In-app shopping tools
U.S. consumers can now use shopping features directly in the Gemini Ai app, such as shoppable product listings, comparison tables, prices from across the web and places to buy products within the app.
AI-based phone calls
A new feature running on Google Duplex AI phone conversation technology lets customers ask Google to call stores on their behalf. When shoppers search for certain products using the “near me” feature on search, they will see the option to "Let Google Call."
They can then tap the "get started" button and Google will prompt them with a few questions tailored to what they’re shopping for. Google AI then calls to see if stores nearby have desired products, how much it costs and if there are any special promotions and sends customers an email or text with the answers, along with local inventory information from other nearby stores from Shopping Graph.
This feature is starting to roll out in search for categories like toys, health and beauty and electronics in the U.S.
