Google releases Universal Cart AI shopping tool for U.S. users

What is new

Google has released Universal Cart, an AI-driven shopping tool currently available to users in the United States [1, 2, 3]. The tool was first previewed by the company during the Google I/O event in May [2, 3]. It functions as a unified digital space where users can collect and monitor products from various retailers [2, 3].

Key features of the tool include:

• Centralized saving: Users can add products found via Google Search or the Gemini app to a single cart [2].
• Automated notifications: Google will send alerts regarding price drops or when previously out-of-stock items are replenished [2, 3].
• Promotional assistance: The tool can identify and display relevant promotional codes for saved items [2, 3].
• Payment integration: Users can pay for items using Google Wallet or transfer the items to a merchant’s own cart for direct checkout [2].
• Financial analysis: When used with Google Wallet, the tool can analyze credit card perks to suggest the best payment method [2].

The checkout process is connected to the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard introduced by Google earlier this year to facilitate cooperation between AI agents and retailers [3]. While currently available on Google Search and the Gemini app, Google plans to integrate Universal Cart with YouTube and Gmail, though no specific timeline has been announced [2].

How to use it

Users can interact with the tool through the following methods described in the reports:

• Find products using the Gemini app or Google Search AI Mode [2].
• Save items to the unified Universal Cart to keep track of shopping progress [2, 3].
• Monitor the cart for notifications regarding price changes or stock availability [2, 3].
• Complete purchases by either using Google Wallet or transferring the selection to the specific retailer’s checkout system [2].

Limits, privacy and academic integrity

At this stage, Universal Cart is only available to users in the United States [1, 2, 3]. While Google has expressed plans to expand the tool’s integration to include Gmail and YouTube, these features have not yet been released and no official dates have been provided [2]. The tool’s current availability is limited to the Gemini app and Google Search platforms [1, 2, 3].