Google's new AI shopping cart tracks deals across stores
Google has begun rolling out Universal Cart, an AI-powered shopping tool that brings products from different retailers into one place and tracks prices across stores.
The tool, which began its U.S. rollout on October 15, works across Google Search and the Gemini app. It uses Google's Shopping Graph, which contains more than 60 billion continually refreshed product listings to monitor prices and availability across supported products.
With the holiday shopping season approaching, Universal Cart could be particularly useful for consumers looking to organize their online shopping experience. The tool allows users to save products from different retailers in one place, rather than keeping separate lists across multiple websites.
Price Tracking and Alerts
One of the key features is the ability to monitor saved products and notify users when prices drop or when out-of-stock items become available again. This could be especially helpful during Black Friday and the holiday shopping season when consumers are looking for the best deals.
Here's the feature I find particularly interesting. Universal Cart can monitor saved products and notify you when a price drops. It can also alert you when something that sold out becomes available again.
Promo Codes and Checkout
The AI-powered cart can surface relevant promotional codes and consider benefits associated with users' payment cards through Google Wallet. It can help shoppers choose between payment methods based on rewards and show promotional codes directly in the cart.
For checkout, Universal Cart offers a streamlined experience with participating retailers like Nike, Sephora, Target, Ulta Beauty, Walmart and Wayfair. Some purchases can be completed using Google Pay directly from the cart, while others transfer to the retailer's website.
Privacy Considerations
While convenient, users should consider how much shopping information they're comfortable keeping within their Google account. Google hasn't provided detailed information about how long Universal Cart shopping data is retained or how it may be used for advertising.
The tool is powered by Google's Universal Commerce Protocol, a technical standard designed to help AI-powered shopping tools communicate with retailers and payment systems. Google originally introduced Universal Cart in May with plans to eventually integrate it with YouTube and Gmail, though those expansions haven't been confirmed yet.
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