Google tests Flipkart purchases through Gemini and AI Mode in India

Google is testing direct purchases from Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in India. The limited test lets some users tap a “Buy” button on select Flipkart product listings and proceed to a Flipkart-branded checkout without leaving the AI interface, according to people familiar with the matter and an experience seen by TechCrunch.

The test covers a small selection of products, including smartphones, electronics and mobile accessories. Other users still see Flipkart listings without the direct-purchase option. One person told TechCrunch that Google plans a broader rollout later in October, ahead of India’s festive shopping season.

The checkout differs from the Google-hosted experience the company previously demonstrated. It is unclear what technology powers the test. Google said it regularly tests features to help people discover and connect with businesses, and had no further details to share. Flipkart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Google introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) earlier this year as an open standard for AI agents to interact with retailers across the shopping journey, including checkout. Google said shoppers would be able to buy eligible products through Gemini and AI Mode using a Google-hosted checkout. It later expanded UCP to let shoppers transfer items to a retailer’s site to complete a purchase.

Google said earlier this month that Flipkart was among merchants partnering with it on “agentic” shopping experiences in India, without detailing the test or rollout timeline. Google invested about $350 million in Flipkart in 2024, taking a minority stake. Amazon listings appeared alongside Flipkart products in the experience seen by TechCrunch, but did not offer direct purchases through the AI interface.