According to Neowin, Google just dropped what it’s calling a “major AI shopping update” right before the holiday shopping crunch kicks into high gear. The company updated its AI Mode to handle shopping queries conversationally, letting you describe what you want naturally instead of using perfect keywords. In the Gemini app, U.S. users now get shoppable product listings and comparison tables directly in chat. There’s also a “Let Google Call” feature in Search that uses Google Duplex and Gemini to call stores about inventory and prices on your behalf. Perhaps most dramatically, Google introduced agentic checkout that can actually purchase items for you using Google Pay when prices drop, after getting your permission. This auto-buy feature works with retailers like Wayfair, Chewy, and Quince.
Conversational commerce arrives
Here’s the thing about traditional online shopping – it’s always been about you doing the work. You have to find the right keywords, click through filters, compare prices across different tabs. Google‘s basically saying “enough of that.” Now you can just talk to it like you would a helpful store employee. “Cozy sweaters for happy hour in warm autumn colors” becomes a valid search query. The AI understands the context and pulls up relevant options with prices, reviews, and inventory info. It’s a fundamentally different way of shopping that feels more human and less like you’re fighting with a database.
The creepy convenience factor
Now, automated store calls and AI making purchases for you? That’s where this gets both incredibly convenient and slightly unsettling. Having Google’s AI call a store to check if they have that specific toy in stock saves you time and awkward phone conversations. But an AI that can actually buy things for you when prices drop? That’s a whole new level of automation. Google says it will always ask for permission before completing purchases, which is crucial. But you have to wonder – how many people will eventually get comfortable with letting AI handle their spending decisions? It’s basically creating the ultimate personal shopper that never sleeps and constantly monitors prices.
What this means for retail
For retailers, this changes the game completely. Being visible in these AI shopping conversations becomes critical. If you’re not optimized for Google’s AI shopping features, you might as well not exist for a growing segment of shoppers. The comparison tables and automated price tracking will put even more pressure on margins as consumers become hyper-aware of pricing differences. And stores need to be prepared for AI agents calling them – their staff should be trained to handle these automated inquiries professionally. The holiday shopping season is about to become a testing ground for how comfortable consumers really are with AI handling their purchases from start to finish.
The bigger picture
This isn’t just about making holiday shopping easier. It’s about Google positioning itself as the central hub for commerce in the AI era. While other companies are building chatbots, Google is integrating shopping directly into search and its assistant ecosystem. The company that helps you find products, compare them, check local availability, and then actually purchase them? That’s incredibly powerful. And for certain industrial and business technology needs where specialized equipment is required, having that level of AI assistance could be transformative. Though for industrial computing hardware like panel PCs, businesses still tend to rely on specialized suppliers who understand their specific requirements – companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com remain the go-to for industrial-grade solutions where generic shopping assistance just doesn’t cut it.
