Google Tests Flipkart Shopping in Gemini and AI Search Mode in India

Google is reportedly testing a new shopping feature in India that would allow users to purchase Flipkart products directly through Gemini and the AI mode in Google Search, without leaving the chat window.

As part of this initial test, some Flipkart product listings appearing in Gemini and AI mode include a "Buy" button. Clicking this button triggers a Flipkart-branded checkout process directly within the AI interface, according to a report by a prominent publication.

This new shopping experience is currently being tested with a small group of users and is limited to a select catalog of products-including smartphones, electronics, and mobile accessories-the report indicates.

Google plans to expand the rollout of this feature in October, prior to India's festive shopping season. This is likely part of the search giant's broader plans to evolve its AI-based services, shifting from simple product searches to enabling native transactions within Gemini.

Meanwhile companies like OpenAI and Meta are also slowly adding shopping and buying features to their AI tools. This change-where AI chatbots go from answering questions, about shopping and suggesting items to actually helping people buy things-is happening faster because of AI helpers. Tech companies are looking for ways to make money from this technology.

However, the revenue potential of AI agents also depends on the access they can gain to the websites and services people use online, particularly in the realm of shopping. Recently, Amazon blocked "Muse"-Meta's personal AI agent-from accessing its shopping site, citing privacy and security risks.

Google states that it is "constantly testing new features and experiences to help people discover and connect with businesses more easily." The company conducts experiments regularly and has no further details to share, according to a Google spokesperson cited in the report.

Shopping Experience on YouTube

YouTube, owned by Alphabet, announced a suite of AI tools, shopping-related updates, and personalized viewer features during its annual "Made on YouTube" event, held last week in New York. Its "Ask YouTube" feature will incorporate shopping queries and follow-up questions, including product comparison tables and voice commands for TV users.

The video-sharing platform also announced the expansion of its creator-focused YouTube Shopping affiliate program into India, in partnership with Amazon. AJIO, Meesho, Snapdeal, and Tata CLiQ will join as new partners. This affiliate program enables viewers to discover products from these brands and make purchasing decisions.

YouTube reported that creators in India and Brazil will soon be able to tag Amazon products in their videos, and that these tags will display offers tailored to viewers in different markets.

More than 450 million YouTube users in India search for shopping-related content on the platform, where watch time for this type of content has increased by 55 per cent year-over-year. Globally, watch time for shopping-related content surpassed 40 billion hours in 2025, and Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) grew 13-fold over a two-year period, according to company data.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahekashan

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Kahekashan is a passionate technophile with a keen eye for cutting-edge gadgets, emerging technologies, and everything in the digital realm. Raised in a Defence family with strong values and a background in literature, she has consistently pursued excellence in every endeavour. Her last full-time assignment involved content writing with the Indian School of Business.

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