Google has started testing a feature that lets users in India buy products from Walmart-owned Flipkart directly through Gemini and AI Mode. The test enables users to see a 'Buy' button on select Flipkart product listings within the AI interface, taking them directly to a Flipkart checkout flow without leaving the AI experience.
The early test is limited to some users and a small selection of products, including smartphones, electronics, and mobile accessories. Other users continue to see regular product listings from Flipkart in Gemini and AI Mode without the option to buy directly from the AI interface.
Google plans to roll out the experience more broadly later in October, ahead of India’s festive shopping season, one of the people said. The test comes as Google and rivals including OpenAI are adding commerce capabilities to their AI offerings, striving to move beyond answering shopping queries and recommending products to playing a more direct role in online purchases.
"We are always testing new features and experiences to help people discover and connect with businesses more easily," said a Google spokesperson. The company regularly runs experiments and has no further details to share, the spokesperson added.
Google has separately been building technology aimed at making purchases possible through its AI services. Earlier this year, it introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) as an open standard designed to let AI agents interact with retailers across the shopping journey, including checkout.
The Flipkart test seen by TechCrunch appears different from the Google-hosted checkout experience the Gemini maker demonstrated earlier. It brings up a Flipkart-branded checkout flow when a user taps the Buy button. It is not clear what technology powers the test.
Source: techcrunch
