Google launches Universal Cart AI system for online shopping and checkout

Google has introduced a new AI-powered shopping system called Universal Cart, designed to centralize and manage online purchases across its platforms. The announcement was made at the company's annual developer conference, signaling a significant push toward what it calls "agentic commerce," where artificial intelligence actively assists users throughout the shopping journey.

Universal Cart functions as a persistent hub that works across Google Search, the Gemini app, YouTube, and Gmail. Users can add products from various retailers to a single cart while browsing these services. Once items are added, the system uses Google's Gemini AI to monitor for price drops, track deals, analyze price history, and alert users when products come back in stock.

The feature is designed to help with complex purchases. For example, when building a custom PC with parts from multiple merchants, the cart can flag compatibility issues between components and suggest alternatives. It can also surface loyalty perks and recommend which saved payment method in Google Wallet might offer the best rewards for a specific purchase.

Checkout is facilitated through Google's expanding Universal Commerce Protocol...