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Google has started testing a new shopping feature in India that allows selected users to purchase certain Flipkart products through Gemini and AI Mode in Google Search.
The test adds a Buy button to some Flipkart product listings. According to TechCrunch, selecting the button opens a Flipkart-branded checkout experience without requiring users to leave the AI interface. The trial currently covers a limited group of users and a narrow range of products, including smartphones, electronics and mobile accessories.
The experiment is part of Google’s broader effort to connect AI-powered product discovery with online shopping.
How Gemini AI Shopping Works With Flipkart
In the reported test, users searching for products through Gemini or AI Mode may see Flipkart listings with a Buy button.
The option does not appear on every product or for every user. When available, the button takes users into a Flipkart-branded checkout flow. Google has not publicly disclosed all of the technical details behind this particular integration.
The current experience should therefore be viewed as a test rather than a fully launched shopping service.
The Feature Is Still Limited
TechCrunch reported that Google plans to expand the feature more broadly later in October, ahead of India’s festive shopping season. However, Google has not publicly confirmed a specific launch date.
The company told TechCrunch that it is continually testing new features designed to help users discover and connect with businesses, but did not provide additional details about the Flipkart experiment.
This means the availability, product selection and purchasing process could change before any wider rollout.
Google Already Offers AI Shopping Features
The Flipkart test builds on shopping capabilities Google has already introduced in India.
Google has previously added shopping features to Gemini that provide product information, prices, comparisons and places to buy. AI Mode in Search can also help users research products using conversational queries.
The new Flipkart test goes a step further by connecting selected product listings with a direct purchasing option.
This illustrates how Google’s AI shopping strategy is moving beyond product discovery and comparison toward helping users take action.
How It Relates to Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol
Google is separately developing the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard intended to help AI agents and retailers work together across different stages of the shopping process.
Google says UCP can support activities such as product discovery, purchasing and post-purchase services. Flipkart is among the companies participating in the broader UCP ecosystem.
However, Google has not confirmed that the specific Flipkart test uses UCP.
That distinction is important. While Flipkart’s involvement in the wider commerce ecosystem is documented, the technical system powering this particular test has not been publicly explained.
Why India Is an Important Test Market
India is a major online shopping market, and the timing of the experiment is notable because the country’s festive season typically brings increased e-commerce activity.
Testing Gemini AI shopping in India allows Google to explore how users respond when product research and purchasing are brought closer together within an AI interface.
Instead of using AI only to find and compare products, users could eventually move from discovering an item to starting the purchase process through the same experience.
The current test is too limited, however, to determine how widely consumers will adopt this approach.
Flipkart and Other Retailers
Flipkart is currently the retailer highlighted in this direct-purchase experiment.
TechCrunch reported that Amazon products could also appear in the AI shopping experience, but Amazon listings did not provide the same direct-buy option in the test.
This shows that product discovery and purchasing can depend on individual retailer integrations. Seeing a product in Google’s AI shopping results does not necessarily mean users can purchase it directly through the same interface.
Whether Google eventually expands direct purchasing to additional retailers remains to be seen.
What Happens Next?
The next stage will be whether Google expands the Flipkart experiment to more users and products.
A broader rollout could provide more information about which products qualify, how the checkout process works and whether other retailers receive similar purchasing capabilities.
For now, the development remains a limited test. Google has not announced that direct Flipkart purchasing is generally available to all Gemini or AI Mode users in India.
FAQs
What is Gemini AI shopping?
Gemini AI shopping refers to Google’s shopping-related capabilities within Gemini and AI-powered Search experiences. These can help users discover products, compare options and, in selected tests, move toward purchasing.
Can users buy Flipkart products through Gemini?
Selected users in India can reportedly see a Buy button on certain Flipkart products through Gemini and AI Mode. The feature is currently limited.
Is the Flipkart buying feature available to everyone?
No. The direct-purchase option is part of a limited test and is not available across all users or products.
Does Gemini support shopping in India?
Yes. Google already provides shopping-related features in Gemini and AI Mode in India, including product information, comparisons and retailer details.
Is the Flipkart test powered by UCP?
Google has not publicly confirmed that the specific Flipkart test uses the Universal Commerce Protocol. Flipkart’s participation in the broader UCP ecosystem does not establish that this particular test uses the protocol.
Conclusion
Google’s Flipkart experiment adds a new dimension to Gemini AI shopping in India. Selected users can see a Buy button on certain Flipkart products through Gemini and AI Mode, with the purchase continuing through a Flipkart-branded checkout experience.
The feature remains a limited test, and Google has not disclosed all of the technology behind the integration. Its connection to UCP should therefore not be assumed.
The experiment nevertheless shows Google exploring how AI can move beyond product discovery and become more closely connected to online purchasing. If the test expands, it could offer a clearer view of how AI assistants may become part of the shopping journey.