Google to embed AI shopping features in multiple services with Universal Cart

Google announced Universal Cart, an AI-driven shopping assistant embedded across its platforms, including Google Search, the Gemini app, YouTube, and Gmail. The tool analyzes product descriptions to find the best deals, tracks price history, and alerts users when out-of-stock items become available. It also detects incompatible items in shopping carts, such as mismatched PC components, and integrates with Google Pay for seamless checkout. Universal Cart is powered by Google’s Gemini 3.5 Flash and Gemini Omni models, which handle AI agent tasks and multimedia processing, respectively. The tool uses payment details stored in Google Wallet to expedite purchases, allowing users to buy directly from the Google Pay interface or sync orders to third-party stores. Some merchants will support one-click purchases within Google’s ecosystem. The technology relies on the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), developed with retailers like Stripe, to standardize AI interactions with online stores. Previously, automating shopping tasks required custom integrations, but UCP simplifies this by providing a unified interface for AI applications. Google introduced UCP in January, and Universal Cart marks its first major consumer application. Initially, the tool will launch in the U.S. this summer for Google Search and the Gemini app, with Gmail and YouTube support following shortly. Long-term, Google plans to introduce AP2, an AI agent capable of making autonomous purchases based on user instructions. The company demonstrated these advancements at its Google I/O 2026 event, alongside new foundation models for consumer AI applications.