Google and Walmart Join Forces to Revolutionize AI Shopping
Google has recently announced a significant expansion of its Gemini AI chatbot capabilities. This expansion comes as a result of a partnership with retail giants such as Walmart, Shopify, and Wayfair, aiming to revolutionize the way consumers shop online. The announcement was made at the National Retail Federation’s annual convention held in New York.
With this new integration, customers can now discover products, build shopping carts, and complete purchases directly within the Gemini chat interface. This eliminates the need to leave the app. Furthermore, an “instant checkout” function has been introduced, enabling transactions through various payment providers. This marks a significant shift in the e-commerce landscape.
“The transition from traditional web or app search to agent-led commerce represents the next great evolution in retail,” said John Furner, the incoming president and CEO of Walmart.
The partnership leverages Google’s newly developed Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard for agentic commerce co-developed with Shopify.
This strategic move positions Google directly against competitors like OpenAI and Amazon, who are also striving to create seamless AI-powered shopping experiences. As per Salesforce estimates, AI influenced $272 billion, or 20% of all global retail sales, during the recent holiday shopping season. The feature will initially launch in the U.S., with plans for international expansion to follow.
Source: CNBC