Google tests direct purchases with Flipkart in India through Gemini

Google has started testing a way for shoppers in India to buy products from Walmart-owned Flipkart directly through Gemini and AI Mode. This initiative marks a broader effort by the search giant to expand its artificial intelligence services from product discovery into direct transactions.

The testing phase

Users included in the test notice a buy button on select Flipkart product listings within Gemini and Google's AI Mode. Selecting this option initiates a checkout flow directly within the interface without requiring the user to navigate elsewhere.

This early evaluation remains limited to a small group of users and a restricted selection of products. Included items consist primarily of smartphones, electronics, and mobile accessories. Other users continue to see standard product listings from Flipkart without the direct purchase option.

Google reportedly plans to expand this experience more broadly in October, strategically timed ahead of India's festive shopping season.

Industry context

This development aligns with broader efforts by Google and competitors like OpenAI to integrate commerce capabilities into artificial intelligence products. Companies are increasingly striving to move beyond answering shopping queries and recommending products to facilitating direct online purchases.

Google previously introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol as an open standard to allow AI agents to interact with retailers throughout the shopping journey, including checkout. However, the current Flipkart test differs by displaying a branded checkout flow directly from the retailer rather than a Google-hosted experience.