Google adds agentic AI checkout to shopping (www.engadget.com)

Google is rolling out three new AI-powered shopping features that make search more conversational and introduce "agentic" capabilities—AI that acts on users’ behalf. In AI Mode, shoppers can use more descriptive queries and get results formatted to suit the query type (shoppable images for visually driven prompts, side‑by‑side comparisons for multi‑attribute buys). The goal is to move from keyword matching toward intent-driven, multimodal shopping results that better surface relevant products. Two agentic features extend this from discovery to purchase and real‑world querying. Agentic checkout lets users set a target sale price via Google’s price‑tracking and opt to have Google buy the item when the discount appears; final purchase and shipping details are confirmed through Google Pay. Initially it’s limited to U.S. shoppers at select retailers (Wayfair, Chewy, Quince and some Shopify stores), with more partners planned. Separately, Gemini-powered AI can call local businesses to check stock, prices and promotions—asking follow‑ups and emailing the findings—starting with toys, health & beauty, and electronics in the U.S. Significance for the AI/ML community: these moves showcase tighter integration of large models with real-world APIs (payments, retailer inventories, telephony/ASR/TTS), accelerate agentic workflows in commerce, and raise important questions around security, privacy, trust, and grounding of model-driven transactions.