Key Points
- AI Mode enables natural‑language shopping searches with refined follow‑up prompts.
- Results include product comparisons, images, historic pricing, and price‑tracking links.
- ‘Let Google Call’ lets an AI agent phone stores to ask about stock and promotions.
- The AI caller identifies itself as a robot, and merchants can opt out of calls.
- Agentic checkout notifies users when target prices are met and completes purchases via Google Pay.
- Early checkout partners include Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and select Shopify merchants.
- Initial rollout focuses on categories like toys, health and beauty, and electronics.
- Google’s AI shopping tools pull from billions of product listings and may incorporate social‑media content.
AI‑Powered Conversational Shopping
Google is adding a conversational layer to its search‑based shopping experience. In AI Mode, users can describe what they are looking for in natural language, refine the request with follow‑up prompts, and receive results that include side‑by‑side comparisons, product image cards, historic pricing data, and price‑tracking options. The system pulls from Google’s extensive catalog of product listings to tailor responses to the specific query. Sponsored listings appear alongside organic results, and users can click through to retailer sites directly from the AI‑generated cards.
Let Google Call: AI Phone Agent
A new feature called “Let Google Call” lets users direct an AI agent to call local stores on their behalf. The AI discloses that it is a robot caller, and merchants have the option to opt out. The call focuses on gathering information about product availability, sales, and promotions. After the call, the user receives a text or email summarizing the information collected. The feature launches in specific categories, starting with toys, health and beauty, and electronics.
Agentic Checkout and Partnerships
Google’s AI agents can also handle the checkout process. Shoppers select items, specify attributes such as color or size, and set a target price. If the product price falls below the target, the AI notifies the user, confirms the purchase intent, and completes the transaction using Google Pay. Early participating merchants include Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and several Shopify sellers. The rollout begins with a limited set of merchants and product categories.
Implications for Retail and Influencers
Google frames these tools as ways to automate tedious parts of shopping while preserving user control, especially around pricing. By consolidating product discovery, price tracking, and checkout within a single AI‑driven interface, the company could reshape how consumers find and purchase items. The system may also draw content from platforms such as TikTok and Reddit, integrating human‑generated recommendations into its responses. While the AI tools provide a personal‑shopper experience, creators and influencers are likely to remain relevant as alternative sources of product insight.
Source: theverge.com