Google Launches Universal Cart in the US to Connect Shopping Across Search and Gemini

TL;DR

• Google’s Universal Cart is now available to US users after its preview at Google I/O in May.
• The tool brings products from multiple retailers into one place across Search and the Gemini app.
• Shoppers can receive alerts when saved items drop in price or become available again.

Universal Cart Keeps Products and Shopping Progress Together

Google announced Thursday that Universal Cart, its tool for collecting and tracking products across Search and the Gemini app, is now available to users in the United States.

First previewed at Google I/O in May, the feature aims to simplify shopping journeys that span multiple retailers and browsing sessions.

Users can save products as they discover them and return later without searching for the same items again. Their selections and shopping progress remain available, creating a central place to manage potential purchases.

The approach addresses a familiar problem for online shoppers: keeping track of products scattered across websites, tabs and conversations. By bringing those items together, Google hopes to make the transition from product discovery to purchase more convenient.

Price Alerts and Restock Notifications Help Shoppers Track Deals

Universal Cart also includes monitoring features designed to help users decide when to buy.

According to Google, shoppers can receive notifications when the price of a saved product falls or when an unavailable item returns to stock.

These alerts allow users to follow products without repeatedly checking individual retailer websites. They also extend the cart’s role beyond storing items, making it a tool for tracking changes that could influence purchasing decisions.

Google says the experience can provide more personalized assistance at checkout, including surfacing relevant promotional codes and taking credit card perks into account when helping shoppers choose how to pay.

Universal Commerce Protocol Supports Checkout

Checkout is connected to Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol, or UCP, an open standard introduced earlier this year.

The protocol is designed to help AI agents and retailers interact across different stages of shopping, including completing purchases.

For Universal Cart, that infrastructure connects the product-saving experience with checkout capabilities. It forms part of Google’s broader effort to make AI useful throughout the shopping process, from identifying suitable products to helping users act on their choices.

Google Expands Its AI Shopping Strategy

Universal Cart joins a growing collection of Google shopping features powered by artificial intelligence.

Search’s AI Mode already supports conversational product discovery, allowing users to explore purchases through questions and follow-up requests.

Google also offers “Let Google Call,” which uses an AI agent to contact nearby stores and ask whether a particular item is available. Together, these tools address different parts of the shopping journey: finding products, checking local inventory and keeping track of items before purchase.

The launch also comes amid increasing competition in agentic commerce. Amazon, OpenAI and other companies have introduced features that allow AI systems to assist with shopping tasks.

With Universal Cart, Google is seeking to keep more of that journey connected across its own services, giving users a persistent place to organize purchases as they move between Search, Gemini and retailers.