Google has begun testing a feature that lets users in India purchase items from Walmart-owned Flipkart directly through its Gemini and AI Mode services. The experiment places a Buy button alongside certain product cards, allowing a shopper to move straight to a checkout flow without opening a separate browser tab. The move follows Google’s broader push to embed commerce capabilities within its generative-AI products.
The early rollout is restricted to a small group of users and a narrow catalog that includes smartphones, other electronics and mobile accessories. When the Buy button is tapped, the interface launches a Flipkart-branded checkout page rather than the Google-hosted checkout that earlier Universal Commerce Protocol demos displayed. Other shoppers continue to see standard Flipkart listings in Gemini without the direct-purchase option.
Google intends to expand the feature to a broader audience in October, timing the wider release for India’s festive shopping period. The company has not disclosed the exact list of additional products or retailers that will gain the Buy button, but the plan suggests a gradual scaling of the AI-driven commerce experience ahead of the high-spending season.
The test arrives as Google and rivals such as OpenAI add transaction capabilities to their AI platforms, moving beyond simple product recommendations toward facilitating actual purchases. A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch that the firm is “always testing new features and experiences to help people discover and connect with businesses more easily,” emphasizing that the experiment is part of routine product development.
Earlier this year Google unveiled the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard intended to let AI agents interact with retailers throughout the shopping journey, including checkout. At launch the protocol promised a Google-hosted checkout for eligible items, and later updates added the ability to hand off the cart to a retailer’s site. The Flipkart trial differs by keeping the checkout on Flipkart’s domain, though the underlying technology has not been confirmed.
Google’s partnership with Flipkart also includes a financial stake; the search giant invested roughly $350 million in the Indian e-commerce platform in 2024, acquiring a minority share. While Flipkart and other merchants such as Amazon appear in Gemini search results, only Flipkart listings currently display the Buy button. The selective rollout hints at a phased integration strategy as Google refines its agentic shopping model.