Google’s Universal Cart shopping tool launches in the US
techcrunch ·
Google has officially launched Universal Cart in the United States, a new tool designed to streamline online shopping by allowing users to save and monitor products across search results and the Gemini app. Initially previewed at Google I/O in May, this feature acts as a central hub where shoppers can collect items from multiple retailers without losing their progress. The system helps users stay informed about deals by sending notifications when prices drop or out-of-stock items become available again. Additionally, Universal Cart offers personalized payment assistance by considering credit card perks and surfacing relevant promo codes during the checkout process. This functionality is built on Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard intended to facilitate collaboration between AI agents and retailers. The launch represents Google's continued investment in AI-powered e-commerce, joining other initiatives like conversational product discovery and automated stock-checking calls. Competitors such as Amazon and OpenAI are also integrating agentic commerce features to enhance chatbot utility beyond simple Q&A.
techcrunch