Google's Universal Cart Rolls Out in the US, Revolutionizing Online Shopping

As part of its efforts to shape the future of commerce, Google has been working on two key fronts: developing agentic capabilities that can act on behalf of users and designing practical tools that give shoppers confidence and control. The Universal Cart is a prime example of this second track, mirroring how people actually shop today across various platforms without losing track of their items or savings.

The Universal Cart was first previewed earlier this year as an intelligent shopping cart and the new hub for shopping on Google. This innovative tool puts users in control by helping them organize their shopping, keep tabs on products they love from multiple retailers, stay informed about promotions, and enjoy effortless checkout powered by the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP).

One of the key features of the Universal Cart is its ability to save products from various retailers across Google. This eliminates the need for users to start over each time they shop or rely on tabs and screenshots to keep track of their items. For instance, if a user saves a handbag from Steve Madden in AI Mode within Search and later adds a sweater from Quince and lip gloss from Ulta Beauty in the Gemini app, those products will be readily available in their cart when they return.

The Universal Cart also allows users to keep tabs on pricing or inventory changes for all items on their list. This is made possible by its integration with Google’s Shopping Graph, which contains over 60 billion continually refreshed product listings. As a result, the cart can proactively work behind the scenes, sending notifications about price drops or when an item comes back in stock.

Another significant feature of the Universal Cart is its ability to identify hidden savings or points from users’ carts. The cart’s intelligent reasoning can anticipate users’ needs and provide relevant promo codes right within the cart. Additionally, it understands users’ card perks through integration with Google Wallet and can intelligently help them choose between payment methods.