Google’s New Shopping Push: Let AI Search, Call Stores and Even Checkout for You
Google’s New Shopping Push: Let AI Search, Call Stores and Even Checkout for You
As the 2025 holiday season ramps up, Google has unveiled a major upgrade to its shopping experience — blending conversational search, AI‑powered checkout, and even an AI that can call stores on your behalf. The goal: make shopping as easy as chatting with a friend, and cut out much of the drudgery involved in finding, comparing, and buying products. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
🛒 What’s New in Google Shopping
- Conversational Shopping in AI Mode : Users can now describe what they’re looking for — e.g. “cozy sweaters for fall under $100” — in plain language. Google’s AI Mode will return images, prices, reviews, availability and even comparison tables if you’re debating between items. It draws on the massive “Shopping Graph”, which indexes tens of billions of products with frequent updates. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- AI‑Powered “Agentic Checkout” : If you’re tracking an item’s price (color, size, etc.), you can now ask Google to alert you when it drops to your target — and with eligible retailers, you can let Google automatically complete the purchase using your Google Pay credentials (after your approval). This saves you from constantly refreshing pages or checking multiple stores. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- “Let Google Call” — AI Calls Stores for You : For products near your location, Google offers a “Let Google Call” option. The AI — based on its voice‑call tech — will ring local stores to check if the item is in stock, ask about price/promotions, then summarize the answers for you. This feature starts in the U.S. and is launching in selected categories (like toys, electronics, beauty, etc.). Stores can opt out if they prefer not to participate. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
These features are rolling out via Google Search (AI Mode) and the Gemini app for U.S. users. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
✅ Why Google Thinks This Will Matter
According to Google leadership, shopping — especially around the holidays — often involves repetitive tasks: flipping through hundreds of product pages, checking stock at multiple stores, watching prices, then finally going through checkout. Their new tools aim to restore what’s fun about shopping (discovery, inspiration) while automating or simplifying the tedious parts. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
For the user, this could mean less time spent comparing, calling stores, or worrying about missing a sale — especially appealing for time‑strained holiday shoppers. For retailers, it could attract customers who might otherwise abandon carts or give up after long searches. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
⚠️ What to Watch Out For — Limitations & Trade‑offs
- Currently U.S.-only and partial rollout : Many of these features — including AI‑powered calls and agentic checkout — are only available in the United States, limiting global reach for now. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- Ads / Sponsored Results Included : Even within conversational search, some of the results will be sponsored listings — users should be mindful that not all recommendations are purely neutral. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Dependence on Merchant Participation : Agentic checkout only works with a subset of merchants (like certain Shopify stores, Wayfair, Chewy, etc.). Similarly, stores must opt-in (or at least not opt out) for AI calls. That means not every store or product will benefit from the automation. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
🔮 What This Means for the Future of Shopping
Google’s move may mark a turning point: shopping evolving from keyword‑based search + manual checkout to a more conversational, agent‑driven, “set‑it‑and‑forget‑it” experience.
- The integration of conversational AI, price tracking, and automated checkout could reshape how we browse and buy — particularly for consumers who want convenience over hunting for deals.
- Retailers may need to optimize how their inventory, pricing, and APIs are exposed — success might depend not just on product quality, but on how well they integrate with AI‑powered shopping flows.
- If this approach goes global, it may accelerate a shift toward “AI-first commerce,” where discovery, comparison, checking stock, and buying can all be handled by AI — reducing friction and potentially reducing reliance on traditional e‑commerce platforms.
