At the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2026 conference, Google Cloud introduced Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, a suite of AI shopping agents developed to assist retailers in offering fully automated, interactive shopping support. The tool handles tasks from product discovery to post-purchase assistance, marking Google’s most significant push yet into AI-driven commerce.
Major retailers including Kroger, Lowe’s, Woolworths, and Papa Johns are among the early adopters. The system allows customers to interact with AI assistants that understand complex requests, such as specifying furniture materials, sizes, or budgets, and can even execute purchases with customer consent. The technology supports multimodal inputs text, image, or voice enabling shoppers to upload photos or handwritten notes that the agent can interpret and act upon.
“With Gemini Enterprise, we’re combining the best of Google Cloud AI with retailers’ institutional data to power a truly agentic commerce journey,” said Darshan Kantak, Vice President of Applied AI at Google Cloud.
However, while AI agents promise personalization and efficiency, many retailers remain cautious about dependence on third-party platforms. Firms like Lowe’s have opted for proprietary AI integrations using Google’s technology, reporting that conversions through its Mylow assistant have doubled. At the same event, Home Depot announced it would expand its partnership with Google Cloud, while Papa Johns confirmed plans to deploy AI-assisted ordering nationwide in 2026.
As the race to dominate AI commerce accelerates, Google’s strategic focus on retailer-owned AI ecosystems highlights its intent to reshape digital shopping without diluting brand loyalty.
