Know What's Happening in Technology

Google Takes Agentic Retail Into Chat

Google unveiled a universal commerce protocol (UCP) to streamline AI‑driven shopping, partnering with retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Lowe’s. The open‑source standard, backed by about 20 major payment firms including Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and Stripe, creates a common language for digital agents, merchants and payment systems. Initial transactions will run through Google Pay, with PayPal added later, and the rollout will expand globally with features such as loyalty rewards and product discovery. The move positions Google alongside OpenAI’s recent agentic commerce efforts, signaling a broader industry shift toward AI‑mediated retail.