Google is testing a way for selected shoppers in India to buy products from Walmart-owned Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in Search. TechCrunch reported the test late on September 26 in the United States, or September 27 UTC, after viewing the experience and speaking with people familiar with it. A Buy button on some Flipkart listings opens a Flipkart-branded checkout flow while the shopper stays in Google's AI interface.
The trial is limited to some users and a small range of smartphones, electronics and mobile accessories, according to TechCrunch. Other users still see ordinary Flipkart listings without the purchase option. In the experience the publication viewed, products from competing retailers, including Amazon, appeared alongside Flipkart listings but did not have the same direct-buy button.
Google has publicly named Flipkart as a partner in its effort to bring shopping transactions to AI services in India. In a September article on its business site, Google described its Universal Commerce Protocol as a way for AI agents to work with retailers through a shopping journey. The company said Flipkart was among merchants partnering on that initiative, although the technology behind the newly observed checkout test remains unclear.
A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company regularly tests features to help people discover and connect with businesses, and provided no further details on this experiment. Flipkart did not immediately respond to the publication's request for comment. One person familiar with the trial told TechCrunch that a wider rollout is planned for later in October, ahead of India's festive shopping season; Google has not publicly confirmed that timetable.
The test illustrates a possible shift from AI tools recommending products to helping users complete purchases. For retailers, a checkout reached from a conversational answer could create a new route to shoppers; for consumers, its value will depend on which products are eligible and how the purchase process works. The present test does not establish that the feature is available throughout India or across other stores.
Google and other AI companies are building commerce features into assistants and search products, according to TechCrunch. The next concrete development to watch is whether Google expands the Flipkart trial in October and explains how participating merchants and users can access it. Until then, the reported functionality remains a limited test rather than a general launch.
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