Google’s Universal Cart shopping tool launches in the US

Google has officially introduced its new Universal Cart tool to users across the United States. The feature, which was first previewed during the Google I/O conference in May, is designed to simplify the modern online shopping experience. By allowing users to collect and monitor items they discover across Google Search and the Gemini app, the tool functions as a persistent, centralized hub for all potential purchases, regardless of the retailer.

The core concept behind Universal Cart is to eliminate the friction often associated with browsing across multiple websites and platforms. When a user finds an item they like, they can save it directly to the cart and return to it later without losing their progress or having to hunt down the same products again. This continuity aims to make the research and decision-making phases of online shopping much more manageable.

Beyond simply saving items, Universal Cart actively assists shoppers by monitoring inventory and pricing. Google has built notification capabilities into the tool, alerting users when a saved product experiences a price drop or when an item that was previously out of stock becomes available again. These features ensure that shoppers stay informed without needing to manually check retailer websites repeatedly.

The tool also introduces intelligent assistance during the final payment stages. Google states that Universal Cart can take credit card perks and rewards into account when helping users determine the best payment method, while also surfacing relevant promotional codes. Checkout is powered by Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard introduced earlier in the year that facilitates seamless interactions between AI agents and retailers.

Universal Cart joins a growing suite of AI-powered commerce features developed by Google. It complements conversational product discovery within Search's AI Mode and the 'Let Google Call' tool, which uses an AI agent to verify product availability by contacting local stores directly. These innovations reflect Google's broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence deeply into everyday consumer activities.

At the same time, Google is not alone in pursuing this market. Competitors including Amazon and OpenAI have also introduced agentic commerce features, highlighting an industry-wide push to transform chatbots into practical shopping assistants. As these tools evolve, they promise to reshape how consumers interact with online retailers, blending search, recommendation, and checkout into a unified experience.