Google tests buying from Walmart-owned Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in India
Google tests buying from Walmart-owned Flipkart through Gemini and AI Mode in India
谷歌在印度测试通过 Gemini 和 AI 模式直接购买沃尔玛旗下 Flipkart 的商品
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 looks to expand its AI services from product discovery into transactions. 谷歌已开始在印度测试一种新方式，允许购物者通过 Gemini 和 AI 模式直接购买沃尔玛旗下 Flipkart 的商品。这家搜索巨头正寻求将其人工智能服务从单纯的产品搜索扩展到交易环节。
Users in the test see a “Buy” button on select Flipkart product listings appearing in Gemini and Google’s AI Mode, which takes them directly to a Flipkart checkout flow without leaving the AI interface, according to people familiar with the matter and an experience seen by TechCrunch. 据知情人士透露以及 TechCrunch 亲身体验，参与测试的用户在 Gemini 和谷歌 AI 模式中查看部分 Flipkart 商品列表时，会看到一个“购买”（Buy）按钮。点击该按钮后，用户无需离开 AI 界面即可直接进入 Flipkart 的结账流程。
The early test is limited to some users and a small selection of products, including smartphones, electronics, and mobile accessories, the people told TechCrunch. Other users continue to see regular product listings from Flipkart in Gemini and AI Mode without the option to buy them directly from the AI interface. 知情人士告诉 TechCrunch，目前的早期测试仅限于部分用户和少量精选商品，包括智能手机、电子产品和手机配件。其他用户在 Gemini 和 AI 模式中看到的仍是 Flipkart 的常规商品列表，且没有直接在 AI 界面内购买的选项。
Google plans to roll out the experience more broadly later in October, ahead of India’s festive shopping season, one of the people said. The test comes as Google and rivals including OpenAI are adding commerce capabilities to their AI offerings, striving to move beyond answering shopping queries and recommending products to playing a more direct role in online purchases. 其中一位知情人士表示，谷歌计划在 10 月下旬印度节日购物季到来之前，更广泛地推广这一功能。此次测试正值谷歌及其竞争对手（包括 OpenAI）纷纷为其 AI 产品增加商业功能之际，旨在超越单纯的购物咨询和产品推荐，在在线购物中发挥更直接的作用。
Asked about the Flipkart test, a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch the company is “always testing new features and experiences to help people discover and connect with businesses more easily.” The company regularly runs experiments and has no further details to share, the spokesperson added. 在被问及 Flipkart 的测试时，谷歌发言人告诉 TechCrunch，公司“一直在测试新功能和新体验，以帮助人们更轻松地发现企业并与之建立联系。”该发言人补充说，公司会定期进行实验，目前没有更多细节可以分享。
Google has separately been building technology aimed at making purchases possible through its AI services. Earlier this year, it introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) as an open standard designed to let AI agents interact with retailers across the shopping journey, including checkout. 谷歌此前一直在开发旨在通过其 AI 服务实现购物的技术。今年早些时候，谷歌推出了通用商业协议（Universal Commerce Protocol，简称 UCP），这是一种开放标准，旨在让 AI 代理能够在整个购物过程中与零售商进行交互，包括结账环节。
Google said at the time that the technology would allow shoppers to buy eligible products through Gemini and AI Mode using a Google-hosted checkout experience. The company has since expanded UCP with other capabilities, including allowing shoppers to transfer items to a retailer’s site to complete a purchase. 谷歌当时表示，该技术将允许购物者通过 Gemini 和 AI 模式，使用谷歌托管的结账体验来购买符合条件的商品。此后，谷歌又为 UCP 增加了其他功能，包括允许购物者将商品跳转至零售商网站完成购买。
The Flipkart test seen by TechCrunch appears different from the Google-hosted checkout experience the Gemini maker demonstrated earlier. It brings up a Flipkart-branded checkout flow when a user taps the Buy button. It is not clear what technology powers the test. TechCrunch 所观察到的 Flipkart 测试似乎与谷歌此前演示的“谷歌托管结账体验”有所不同。当用户点击“购买”按钮时，它会调出 Flipkart 品牌的结账流程。目前尚不清楚该测试背后的具体技术支撑。
Earlier this month, Google said Flipkart was among the merchants partnering with it to bring what it calls “agentic” shopping experiences to consumers in India, but it had not disclosed details of the test or its rollout timeline. 本月早些时候，谷歌曾表示 Flipkart 是其合作伙伴之一，双方将共同为印度消费者带来所谓的“代理式”（agentic）购物体验，但当时并未披露测试细节或推广时间表。
Notably, Google has a financial relationship with Flipkart — alongside its technology partnership with the e-commerce company. It invested about $350 million in the e-commerce company in 2024 as part of a funding round led by the U.S. retailer, taking a minority stake. 值得注意的是，除了技术合作外，谷歌与 Flipkart 还存在财务关系。2024 年，作为由沃尔玛领投的一轮融资的一部分，谷歌向 Flipkart 投资了约 3.5 亿美元，并持有其少数股权。
India, the world’s second-largest internet market with more than a billion internet subscribers, sees Flipkart and Amazon compete fiercely for online shoppers. That competition intensifies further during the country’s festive season, when e-commerce companies roll out some of their biggest sales and promotions of the year. 印度是全球第二大互联网市场，拥有超过 10 亿互联网用户，Flipkart 和亚马逊在此地为争夺在线购物者展开了激烈竞争。这种竞争在印度的节日购物季期间尤为激烈，届时电商公司会推出全年规模最大的促销活动。
For now, the Buy option is not appearing across all retailers surfaced by Google’s AI services. In the experience seen by TechCrunch, listings from rivals including Amazon appeared alongside Flipkart products but did not offer the option to purchase directly through the AI interface. 目前，“购买”选项并未出现在谷歌 AI 服务所展示的所有零售商页面中。在 TechCrunch 的体验中，包括亚马逊在内的竞争对手的商品列表与 Flipkart 的产品一同出现，但并没有提供直接通过 AI 界面购买的选项。
Flipkart did not immediately respond to an email requesting for comment. Flipkart 未能立即回复置评请求。