Consumer Watchdog Questions Google’s New AI Shopping Framework

Key Highlights Consumer Watchdog Raises Alarm Over Google’s AI Shopping Plans A consumer watchdog has questioned Google’s new AI shopping framework, saying it could give companies more influence over pricing. These concerns emerged soon after Google introduced its Universal Commerce Protocol, an AI-powered shopping agent that interacts with retailers across Google Search and AI products, including Gemini. What Sparked the Warning Lindsay Owens, executive director of the think tank Groundwork Collaborative, drew worldwide attention on social media by warning that Google’s plans to personalize upselling could allow companies to charge users based on their shopping behavior and chat history. Big/bad