Google is extending the reach of its AI Mode by adding two consumer‑focused tools that automate routine shopping and travel tasks. The updates, set to appear on the platform in the United States in the coming weeks, let users ask the system to locate a product in nearby stores and to track the price of a specific hotel.

Product availability feature

When a user types a request such as “I need clip‑on polarized sunglasses that fit over my glasses, where can I buy them nearby?” the AI Mode agent contacts local retailers on the user’s behalf. It then returns a list of stores that have the item in stock, complete with address and contact details. The capability debuted on Google Search last November, but the rollout to AI Mode expands its availability to mobile and desktop users who prefer the conversational interface.

Google says the feature is designed to cut down the time spent scrolling through multiple retailer sites. By handling the outreach to stores, the AI reduces the friction of finding a specific product, especially for items that are hard to locate or that require precise specifications.

Hotel price‑tracking tool

Travelers can now set a price‑tracking toggle for an individual hotel rather than a city‑wide average. On a desktop browser, a user searches the hotel by name, clicks the new toggle, and receives an email when the rate changes for the selected dates. Mobile users find the same option under the “Prices” tab after entering a hotel name. The alerts aim to help users lock in lower rates without manually rechecking prices.

Google’s rollout also includes a brief data snapshot of summer travel trends. The company highlighted that St. Maarten, Stockholm, Kansas City, Missouri, and Sarasota, Florida, rank among the top international and domestic destinations for summer 2026. Searches for “AI travel assistant” and “AI concierge” have surged 350 % over the past year, while queries like “how to use AI to find flight deals” and “AI flight booking” jumped 315 % and 315 % respectively.

These additions underscore Google’s strategy to embed generative AI deeper into everyday decision‑making. By automating product‑search calls and hotel‑price monitoring, the tech giant hopes to keep users within its ecosystem for both shopping and travel planning.

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