At Google I/O, the tech giant unveiled Universal Cart, a centralised shopping system that lets users add and track products from multiple devices and retailers. The smart cart uses AI to help shoppers make better decisions by flagging compatibility issues or suggesting alternatives.

Google also updated its Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), allowing software agents to complete purchases autonomously within defined limits, giving Google direct visibility into consumer shopping habits.

This move signals a shift towards AI assistants becoming active participants in online commerce. With Universal Cart and UCP expanding to more categories, users can check out directly through Google with participating merchants or transfer items to the merchant site for completion.

The roll-out will begin in the US with Gemini app support this summer, followed by integration into YouTube and Gmail. UCP is set to expand beyond North America, reaching Canada and Australia soon after.

For consumers, Universal Cart promises a seamless shopping experience; for merchants, it offers deeper insights into consumer behaviour. But as AI takes over more of our online transactions, the question remains: how much control do we really have?