Google AI lets shoppers call stores, browse 50 B listings, get side‑by‑side charts
Google is quietly testing a new shopping assistant that mixes a phone call, a visual browse and on-the-fly data charts into one screen. Picture this: you dial a store, say “the best 4-K TV under $800,” and a grid of product thumbnails pops up, each linked to a live price tag. The trick is that the tool leans on Google’s huge catalog, about 50 billion items, so it can pull up choices that would normally take you through several pages and endless clicks.
It sounds slick, but I’m not sure how handy those side-by-side comparisons will be for most shoppers who are used to scrolling forever. The AI doesn’t just spit out a raw list; it tries to shape the answer to what you asked for, whether that ends up as a simple spec chart or a stream of visual cards for broader inspiration. You can then tap a card to dive deeper, see reviews or add it to a cart.
Whether that actually speeds up buying or just adds another layer of noise remains to be seen.
The AI-powered response pulls from Google's trove of 50 billion product listings and is tailored to the specific request: a side-by-side chart if the user is asking for comparisons of specific items, or a stream of product image cards if they're looking for general suggestions. Users can click into items, visit retailer sites, see historic pricing data, and track price changes all from AI Mode, and there will be sponsored listings (i.e., ads) in results. Google is also adding the shopping features to the Gemini app for US users.
AI tools will also be deployed for the shopping tasks that can be painfully human. Google is adding a so-called agentic AI feature called "Let Google Call" that users can direct to call local stores to ask about products, what's in stock, and whether there are sales or promotions. When the AI agent calls, it discloses to the store that it's an AI caller; merchants will be able to opt out if they don't want robots asking about sales.
Google’s new shopping AI tries to jam three things that used to live in separate apps: a voice-driven call to a local store, a browse of billions of product listings, and an automated checkout. It leans on a database of about 50 billion items, pulling up side-by-side charts when you ask for a direct comparison, and streaming image cards for broader suggestions. You can tap those cards to dig deeper, although the article doesn’t say what happens after you click.
It’s certainly an ambitious mash-up, but whether shoppers will hand over calls and purchases to a bot is still up in the air. The promise is convenience; the reality will probably depend on how well the AI reads subtle requests. The piece also leaves out any mention of safeguards against mistakes or wrong orders, so that part stays fuzzy. As Google rolls this out, the tug-of-war between a smooth, AI-driven flow and the need for human checks will likely decide how useful it ends up being.
Related Reading
Browse all Google news →
AI Tools & Apps Sider 5.0 Adds Wisebase‑Powered Deep Research Agent to Top AI Chrome Extensions
AI Tools & Apps 9% trust AI code alone; 58% see entry tasks cut, 63% see paths, 59% foresee roles
AI Tools & Apps Adobe launches LLM Optimizer to enhance brand visibility in AI chat services
Related Topic Gemini 3 Pro builds screenshot-to-code app in two prompts, fixes bugs
LLMs & Generative AI
Related Topic Baidu opens multimodal AI, claims it beats GPT‑5 and Gemini, runs on one 80GB GPU
LLMs & Generative AI
Common Questions Answered
How does Google’s new shopping AI combine voice calls with product browsing?
The system lets users dial a retailer using a voice‑driven call, then instantly presents a visual grid of product images pulled from Google’s catalog. After the call, users can tap the image cards to explore details, visit retailer sites, and even track price changes—all within the same interface.
What role does the “50 billion product listings” database play in the AI‑powered response?
Google’s AI taps into its trove of roughly 50 billion items to surface relevant products for any query, whether it’s a specific price range or a broad category. This massive catalog enables the assistant to generate side‑by‑side comparison charts or streaming image cards that would otherwise require multiple searches.
How are side‑by‑side charts generated when a user asks for direct product comparisons?
When a request specifies a direct comparison—such as “best 4‑K TV under $800”—the AI extracts the relevant listings and automatically creates a side‑by‑side chart showing key specs, prices, and historic pricing data. The chart is displayed alongside image cards, allowing users to quickly evaluate differences without leaving the AI Mode.
What types of sponsored content appear in the AI Mode results and how are they indicated?
Sponsored listings, essentially ads from retailers, are interspersed with organic product cards in the AI Mode results. These paid placements are clearly labeled as sponsored, ensuring users can distinguish between algorithm‑generated suggestions and advertiser‑paid entries.