Google has launched its long-awaited conversational shopping feature in AI Mode search, marking a significant shift towards leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to personalize the online shopping experience. This move is part of Google's broader strategy to inject more intelligence into its search engine, enabling users to ask complex questions and receive tailored suggestions.
The new feature, which was first announced at the Google I/O conference in May, will allow AI Mode users to ask questions about products they're interested in buying, with the search engine providing guidance, guides, tables, and other generated content to help them make informed decisions. This is made possible by Google's massive "Shopping Graph," a repository of retailer data that enables its AI to offer unique suggestions.
However, not all sponsored content will be displayed in these experiences. Instead, ads will appear alongside the user's search results, similar to traditional searches. In contrast, the Gemini app, which is also getting an update, won't display sponsored content in its search results at this time.
Another feature that's rolling out is "agentic checkout," a feature that allows users to set a price threshold for products they're interested in buying and receive alerts when the item reaches that price. The twist? Users can authorize automatic purchases with Google Pay if the item falls below their specified price threshold.
But what about Duplex, the AI-powered virtual assistant that's been largely absent from Google searches since its early days? Not to worry – Duplex is back in action, albeit with a new purpose. When users search for products near them, they'll have the option to "Let Google Call," allowing the robot to contact local businesses on their behalf to check availability and inventory.
While these features may not change the way you shop online just yet, they demonstrate Google's commitment to integrating AI into its search engine and improving the shopping experience. With the holiday season approaching, it'll be interesting to see how these new features take off – or if they become a permanent fixture on your favorite search engine.
The new feature, which was first announced at the Google I/O conference in May, will allow AI Mode users to ask questions about products they're interested in buying, with the search engine providing guidance, guides, tables, and other generated content to help them make informed decisions. This is made possible by Google's massive "Shopping Graph," a repository of retailer data that enables its AI to offer unique suggestions.
However, not all sponsored content will be displayed in these experiences. Instead, ads will appear alongside the user's search results, similar to traditional searches. In contrast, the Gemini app, which is also getting an update, won't display sponsored content in its search results at this time.
Another feature that's rolling out is "agentic checkout," a feature that allows users to set a price threshold for products they're interested in buying and receive alerts when the item reaches that price. The twist? Users can authorize automatic purchases with Google Pay if the item falls below their specified price threshold.
But what about Duplex, the AI-powered virtual assistant that's been largely absent from Google searches since its early days? Not to worry – Duplex is back in action, albeit with a new purpose. When users search for products near them, they'll have the option to "Let Google Call," allowing the robot to contact local businesses on their behalf to check availability and inventory.
While these features may not change the way you shop online just yet, they demonstrate Google's commitment to integrating AI into its search engine and improving the shopping experience. With the holiday season approaching, it'll be interesting to see how these new features take off – or if they become a permanent fixture on your favorite search engine.
i mean, who needs ai to suggest products when you can just browse through a curated selection on net-a-porter? but i guess for the masses who don't care about exclusivity and personalized experience, these features might be kinda nice. 
what's next? autonomous shopping assistants who know your spending habits and make purchases for you without permission? that's just creepy.
i mean, who needs human interaction when you can just talk to your computer? but seriously, the agentic checkout feature sounds like a total game changer - being able to set a price threshold and getting notified when it hits that amount would be so convenient 
also, let's give a shoutout to duplex for making a comeback 
i wish they'd implement more features, though... maybe google could use the shopping graph to suggest products based on our browsing history or something 
idk about agentic checkout but i dont wanna authorize automatic purchases lol my wallet would hate me 
its like they just brought back a old friend who's all "hey remember that time when i helped you book a flight lol" 
. like, who doesnt love getting alerts when theres a sale on ur fave item?! 
especially with this new conversational shopping feature it's gonna make online shopping way easier for us 
love the idea of having duplex make calls to local businesses instead of having to do it ourselves 
! I mean, who doesn't want AI-powered suggestions while shopping online? It's like having a personal stylist in your browser 
. Can't wait to try it out this holiday season!
and I gotta say, it's like having a personal shopping assistant built into the browser 
! It's so cool that you can ask questions about products and get super detailed info, guides, and all that jazz. The shopping graph thingy is pretty mind-blowing too, it's like Google has this massive library of retailer data just waiting to help you find what you're looking for 
.
It's like having your own personal shopping butler 
. And, I'm stoked that Duplex is back in action too, it's so convenient to just let Google call the shops for you when you're searching for something nearby 
. However, I do wonder about the impact on user behavior and the potential for oversaturation with sponsored content 
like who wouldn't want to get personalized suggestions while searching for gifts? and agentic checkout sounds like a total game changer 
"let google call" is literally the best idea ever 
Not cool. And, I guess, this raises some concerns about ad overload... will we be drowning in sponsored content? 