🛍️ Google Supercharges AI Shopping: From Conversational Search to “Agentic Checkout” and Store-Calling AI
Google just raised the bar for online shopping — again. The tech giant announced a new wave of AI-powered shopping features that promise to make buying things online (and even offline) feel as natural as chatting with a friend. From conversational search to autonomous checkout and an AI that literally calls stores for you, Google is reimagining how we shop in 2025.
👉 Read the full TechCrunch report here.
🧠 The Next Generation of AI Shopping
1. Conversational Shopping via Search
Google’s new AI Mode lets users ask natural-language questions like “Show me cozy autumn sweaters under $50” — and instantly get visual, text, and product results that feel more like a chat than a query.
2. “Agentic Checkout”
This new feature allows Google to buy products on your behalf once certain conditions are met — say, when a price drops below your set budget. The AI confirms details and permissions before completing the purchase via the merchant site and Google Pay.
3. AI That Calls Stores for You
Powered by Google Duplex, the AI can now call physical stores to check whether an item is in stock, confirm prices, or ask about promotions — all on your behalf. Retailers can opt out, but for users, this bridges the gap between online and offline shopping.
💡 Why It Matters
- End-to-End Shopping Ecosystem: Google is evolving from being a search tool to a full-fledged shopping assistant — guiding you from “I want it” to “I’ve bought it”.
- Frictionless Experience: Natural language, automatic price tracking, and autonomous checkout drastically cut clicks and browsing time.
- Retail Implications: Merchants gain new exposure — but may grow more dependent on Google’s ecosystem and face tighter control over pricing visibility. Sponsored listings are part of AI Mode from day one.
- Offline-Online Bridge: With store-calling, Google’s AI starts interacting directly with the real world — signaling a new era for digital assistants and local retail.
📊 Under the Hood
- Google’s Shopping Graph powers everything — boasting 50 billion product listings with 2 billion updates per hour, ensuring fresh, real-time data.
- Agentic checkout launches first in the U.S. with partners like Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and select Shopify merchants.
- The AI calling feature is limited to certain U.S. categories (toys, beauty, electronics) with merchant opt-in to prevent call overload.
- Privacy and transparency remain open questions — especially around disclosure of sponsored listings and data collection in AI-assisted transactions.
🧭 What to Watch
- Global rollout: How fast will Google expand these AI tools beyond the U.S.?
- Retailer response: Will stores see AI calls as a convenience or a nuisance?
- Competition: Expect Amazon, Meta, and TikTok to roll out rival conversational or “agentic” shopping flows soon.
- User adoption: Will people embrace the idea of letting AI handle purchases, or prefer traditional checkout?
📘 Glossary
- Shopping Graph — Google’s massive, constantly updating dataset that maps products, prices, merchants, and inventory across the web.
- Agentic Checkout — An AI-powered system that automatically completes purchases once predefined conditions are met (e.g., price drop).
- Google Duplex — Conversational AI tech that can make phone calls to businesses on a user’s behalf, now extended to retail inquiries.
- Conversational Search — A natural-language search experience where users talk to Google like a chatbot instead of typing keywords.
- Sponsored Listings — Paid placements within AI Mode results that promote certain products or merchants.
🧩 The Bigger Picture
Google’s latest upgrade cements its ambition to dominate AI-driven commerce — not just helping users find what they want, but acting on their behalf. It’s a glimpse into the future of retail: one where the line between assistant, buyer, and store is increasingly blurred.
For consumers, it means effortless discovery and purchase. For retailers, it’s a wake-up call — to ensure their data, pricing, and visibility are ready for this new “AI-first” marketplace.
Source: TechCrunch article
