Google announced a major upgrade to its shopping experience on Thursday, introducing new AI-driven tools for Google Search (AI Mode) and the Gemini app. The rollout comes just in time for the Black Friday and holiday shopping rush.
During a media briefing, Vidhya Srinivasan, Google’s Vice President for Ads & Commerce, said the new features aim to make online shopping more intuitive and conversational—what Google calls a “vibe-shopping” experience—compared to the traditional, keyword-heavy process users are used to.
Smarter, Visual Shopping in AI Mode
The revamped AI Mode marks Google’s biggest leap forward in online shopping. Users can now describe what they’re looking for in plain language instead of guessing the right keywords. In response, AI Mode generates visually rich suggestions, complete with product comparisons showing prices, reviews, and availability.
The experience is designed to feel more like chatting with a shopping assistant. Users can refine searches naturally through conversation, diving deeper into details or exploring alternative options without starting from scratch.
These new experiences rely on Google’s powerful AI models and its expansive Shopping Graph, which indexes over 50 billion product listings—two billion of which are updated every hour. Google confirmed that AI Mode’s suggestions and ads follow the same personalization settings as in standard Google Search.
Gemini App Gets Ad-Free Shopping Tools
In addition to AI Mode, Google is expanding the Gemini app’s capabilities with new ad-free shopping tools. Users can ask Gemini for gift ideas or trend inspiration and get curated product suggestions powered by the same Shopping Graph. The feature is launching in the U.S. ahead of the holiday sales season.
AI That Watches Prices—And Can Even Buy for You
Google is also introducing agentic AI features that make deal-hunting easier. Shoppers can now track prices on specific products—down to size, color, or preferred price point—and receive alerts when prices drop. For supported merchants, including Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and Shopify, the AI can even complete a purchase automatically via Google Pay, pending user approval.
Duplex-Powered “Let Google Call” Feature
To bridge the gap between online and local shopping, Google Search now includes a feature called “Let Google Call.” Using Google’s Duplex technology and a large Gemini model, the AI can place voice calls to nearby stores to check product availability. The AI identifies itself during these calls and reports back the details to the user via text or email. The feature currently supports categories like toys, beauty, and electronics, and is rolling out to Search users in the U.S.
