Google’s AI Shopping Assistant Will Actually Buy Stuff For You

According to Techmeme, Google is rolling out new AI shopping features that include product comparison with shoppable links, but the real news is what comes next. The company announced that its AI will actually call stores to check inventory availability and monitor prices automatically. Most significantly, Google’s AI will be able to make purchases on behalf of users using what they’re calling “agentic workflows.” This represents a major escalation in the AI commerce wars, with Google directly responding to OpenAI’s recent agentic commerce announcements. The timing suggests Google isn’t willing to cede any ground to competitors in the AI-powered shopping space.

The Inevitable Google Counter-Punch

Here’s the thing about Google – they’ve been watching OpenAI’s every move. When OpenAI rolls out agentic commerce features, of course Google’s going to respond with their own version. But they’re playing to their strengths. As Simon Smith pointed out, Google’s advantage is massive: most people still start their searches on Google. They don’t need to convince users to change platforms – they just need to match or exceed what ChatGPT offers. And honestly? That’s a huge advantage when you’re talking about shopping behavior, which is deeply ingrained.

What Agentic Shopping Actually Means

So what are these “agentic workflows” everyone’s talking about? Basically, instead of just showing you products and prices, the AI takes action. It’ll call stores to confirm they have what you’re looking for in stock. It’ll monitor prices across multiple retailers and alert you when something drops. And most disruptively, it’ll actually complete purchases for you. Think about that – an AI that doesn’t just find deals but executes them. Glenn Gabe noted this could fundamentally change how we shop online. But it also raises questions about trust, security, and whether people really want AI making purchasing decisions for them.

The Trust Problem

Now, here’s where it gets tricky. Letting an AI buy things for you requires a level of trust that most people aren’t ready for. What happens when it buys the wrong size? Or the wrong color? Or something you were just browsing? Lily Ray raised similar concerns about how these systems will handle returns and customer service issues. And let’s be real – Google doesn’t exactly have a perfect track record with customer support. This isn’t just about technology working – it’s about the entire customer experience when things go wrong.

The Coming AI Commerce Battle

What we’re seeing is the opening shots in what’s going to be a brutal AI commerce war. Google’s announcement, as detailed in their official channels here, shows they’re not messing around. They’re leveraging their existing search dominance while matching OpenAI’s most ambitious features. The question isn’t whether AI will transform shopping – it’s which company will win user trust for these automated transactions. And right now, Google’s starting position looks pretty strong, even if OpenAI’s technology might be more advanced in some areas. This is going to get interesting.