Google tests buying from Walmart-owned Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in India

Google has started testing a way for shoppers in India to buy products from Walmart-owned Flipkart directly through Gemini and AI Mode, as the search giant expands its AI services from product discovery into transactions.

In the test, a "Buy" button shows up on selected Flipkart product listings inside Gemini and Google's AI Mode. Tapping it opens a Flipkart checkout flow without leaving the AI interface, according to people familiar with the matter and an experience seen by TechCrunch.

A limited test, with a wider rollout planned

The early test is limited to some users and a small selection of products, including smartphones, electronics and mobile accessories. Other users still see regular Flipkart listings in Gemini and AI Mode, just without the option to buy directly.

Google plans to roll the experience out more broadly later in October, ahead of India's festive shopping season, one person said. Asked about the test, 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 regularly runs experiments and has no further details to share.

Part of a wider commerce push

The test fits Google's broader push into AI-driven commerce. Earlier this year the company introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard designed to let AI agents work with retailers across the shopping journey, including checkout. Google said at the time that shoppers would be able to buy eligible products through Gemini and AI Mode using a Google-hosted checkout, and it has since expanded UCP with new capabilities.

The Flipkart test looks different from that Google-hosted checkout: it brings up a Flipkart-branded flow when the Buy button is tapped, and it is not clear what technology powers it. Earlier this month, Google said Flipkart was among the merchants partnering with it on "agentic" shopping experiences in India, but it did not disclose details of the test. Rivals including OpenAI are also adding commerce features to their AI products.

Google's ties with Flipkart

Google and Flipkart are linked beyond technology. The company invested about $350 million in the e-commerce firm in 2024 as part of a funding round led by Walmart, taking a minority stake. India is the world's second-largest internet market, with more than a billion internet subscribers, and Flipkart competes fiercely with Amazon for online shoppers, especially during the festive season.

For now, the Buy option does not appear across all retailers surfaced by Google's AI services: Amazon listings appeared alongside Flipkart products in the experience seen by TechCrunch, but without the option to purchase directly through the AI interface. Flipkart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.