Google is rolling out a new “Checkout” feature for its Gemini AI chatbot and Google Search’s AI Mode, allowing users to purchase products directly within the chat or search experience. Announced in a recent blog post, the feature removes the need to visit external retailer websites, letting users complete purchases using either Google Pay or PayPal without leaving the interface.
Alongside Checkout, Google is also introducing the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard designed to connect AI agents, payment systems, and online stores into a single, interoperable ecosystem. The goal is to make AI-driven shopping more seamless by allowing different platforms and agents to communicate and transact with one another efficiently. Google says UCP is compatible with existing frameworks such as Agent2Agent (A2A), Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), and Model Context Protocol (MCP), positioning it as a unifying layer rather than a replacement.
The development of UCP involved collaboration with major retailers including Shopify, Etsy, Walmart, and Target, signaling strong interest from the commerce side of the industry. More than 20 additional companies are supporting the protocol as well, among them major payment networks like Mastercard and Visa, which could help accelerate adoption and trust.
For now, Checkout within Gemini and Google Search’s AI Mode is limited to users in the United States. However, the combination of in-chat purchasing and an open commerce standard suggests Google is laying the groundwork for a broader push into AI-powered shopping experiences, potentially reshaping how users discover and buy products online.