Google trials Walmart's Flipkart shopping integration within Gemini and AI Mode in India

Google has quietly begun letting a small group of users in India buy Flipkart products directly from within Gemini and its AI Mode, marking a shift from AI-assisted product discovery to completing transactions inside the AI interface itself. A "Buy" button on select Flipkart listings now takes shoppers straight into a Flipkart checkout flow without leaving Google's AI experience.

How the Early Test Works

Users included in the test see a "Buy" button on certain Flipkart product listings that appear in Gemini and AI Mode. Tapping it opens a Flipkart-branded checkout rather than the Google-hosted checkout Google demonstrated earlier this year. TechCrunch saw the experience firsthand, and people familiar with the matter said the trial covers only some users and a limited product range — smartphones, electronics, and mobile accessories. Other users still see plain Flipkart listings with no purchase option.

A Google spokesperson said the company is "always testing new features and experiences to help people discover and connect with businesses more easily," adding that it runs experiments regularly and had nothing further to share. Flipkart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Timeline: From Partnerships to a Checkout Button

Earlier this month, Google named Flipkart among merchants partnering to bring "agentic" shopping experiences to consumers in India, without disclosing specifics. Broader rollout is reportedly planned for later in October, timed ahead of India's festive shopping season.

The test also builds on groundwork laid earlier this year, when Google introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard enabling AI agents to interact with retailers across the shopping journey, including checkout. Google has since expanded UCP, for example by letting shoppers transfer items to a retailer's site to complete a purchase. The current test differs from the Google-hosted checkout shown with UCP, and it remains unclear what technology powers it.

Why Flipkart, and What It Signals

Google has a financial stake in the retailer: it invested about $350 million in Flipkart in 2024, taking a minority stake in a funding round led by Walmart. Competing listings, including Amazon's, appeared alongside Flipkart products in the interface TechCrunch reviewed — but without any direct purchase option, suggesting the integration is selective for now.

The move reflects a wider race among AI providers, including OpenAI, to add commerce capabilities and move beyond recommendations into actual transactions. What to watch next: whether the Buy button expands beyond the current product categories, and how Indian shoppers respond during the festive season push.