Mumbai, January 11: Google has announced a major expansion of its artificial intelligence capabilities by partnering with Walmart and several other global retailers to integrate direct shopping features into its Gemini AI chatbot. The collaboration, unveiled on Sunday, allows users to move from product discovery to purchase without leaving the AI interface. By leveraging a new open standard known as the ‘Agentic Commerce’ protocol, Google aims to transform Gemini from a search-based assistant into a transactional agent capable of executing complex shopping tasks on behalf of the user.

The partnership includes retail giants like Walmart, Target, and Sephora, alongside e-commerce platforms such as Shopify. According to a joint statement from Walmart and Google, the integration is designed to make digital shopping effortless by allowing the AI to understand personal preferences, check real-time inventory, and facilitate secure checkouts. This move marks a significant escalation in the competition between Google and Amazon, as the former seeks to capture a larger share of the burgeoning AI-driven commerce market. Reliance Partners With Google To Accelerate AI Adoption Across India, Will Roll Out Google’s Gemini AI Pro Plan Free to Jio Users.

Google Gemini Shopping Walmart

At the core of this initiative is the ‘Agentic Commerce’ protocol, a new technical framework introduced by Google to standardise how AI agents interact with retail platforms. This protocol allows Gemini to communicate directly with a retailer’s backend systems to verify product specifications, price fluctuations, and delivery windows. For example, a user could ask Gemini to "find and buy a highly-rated, waterproof tent for under USD 200 that can be delivered by Friday," and the AI would present the best options from partner retailers and handle the payment.

Google’s Vice President of Ads and Commerce stated that this protocol is intended to be an open industry standard, encouraging other retailers and AI developers to participate. By creating a unified language for AI agents and storefronts, Google hopes to eliminate the friction of navigating multiple websites and apps. For retailers like Walmart, the collaboration provides a direct channel to consumers who are increasingly using AI chatbots as their primary entry point for information on the internet.

Agentic Commerce Protocol

Walmart’s involvement is particularly noteworthy, as the retailer has been aggressively investing in its own generative AI tools for supply chain management and customer service. Through this partnership, Walmart will allow Gemini users to access their existing Walmart accounts, including "Buy It Again" lists and loyalty rewards. This level of integration ensures that the AI can offer personalised recommendations based on a customer’s actual purchase history, rather than just general search trends. Gemini Enterprise: Google Cloud Introduces New Platform, Brings ‘Best’ of Google AI to Every Employee, for Every Workflow.

The shopping experience within Gemini will also include real-time tracking and post-purchase support. If a user buys a product through the chatbot, they can later ask, "Where is my Walmart order?" or "Initiate a return for the shoes I bought yesterday," and the AI will execute those commands. Industry analysts suggest that this end-to-end service model is essential for retaining users who might otherwise be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices available on traditional search engines.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 11, 2026 11:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).