Google launches UCP and integrates Gemini with Walmart

Google is making Gemini shoppable, raising the stakes for brand visibility in AI-driven commerce. In this video, Bernie Che breaks down Google's new Universal Commerce Protocol and what it means for your brand's visibility in an agentic world. UCP is an open standard that lets AI agents handle discovery, checkout, and post-purchase support across major retailers, creating a less fragmented ecosystem where shoppers can go from question to purchase inside a single AI conversation. Walmart's Gemini integration shows how fast this is moving. Shoppers can ask Gemini for shopping advice, see personalized product recommendations from Walmart and Sam's Club, and get delivery in under 3 hours, all without leaving the experience. Bernie walks through what this means for how brands show up, why Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is rising in importance, and how the gap between discovery and conversion is collapsing in AI-native experiences. If you're not thinking about how your products show up in AI-driven discovery and checkout, you're already behind. Watch the video to understand what this shift means for your brand and why 2026 is the year to pressure-test your GEO strategy.