Streets Ahead: Google AI Mode , OpenAI & Commerce, TikTok
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses Google expanding AI Mode from search to transactions, OpenAI pushing into commerce and clarity around TikTok in the U.S.
Google Expands AI Mode from Search to Transactions
The News Google is extending the capabilities of its AI Mode with two experimental features designed to push conversational search into more practical territory: restaurant booking and visual discovery.
Restaurant Reservations via AI Mode : In a feature now available through Google Labs, users can enable an option to book restaurant reservations directly within AI Mode. After entering a request, such as cuisine type, party size, and preferred time, Google’s agent surfaces matching restaurants with availability. Users are then directed to the restaurant’s booking page to complete the reservation.
Visual Search Comes to AI Mode: Google has also brought visual search to the public version of AI Mode. Users can now see image-based results for queries, similar to Google Images, and can upload images to initiate searches. The company highlights shopping as a primary use case: consumers can start with a conversational prompt, scroll through visual options, refine results, and move seamlessly to purchase within the same AI-driven interface.
Behind the Tech: The new visual functionality is powered by what Google calls “visual search fan-out.” The system analyzes multiple features of an image and uses them to generate related searches in parallel … an extension of the “query fan-out” technique that underpins much of AI Mode’s discovery engine.
Why This Matters Google has previously positioned AI Mode as a testing ground for features that could migrate into its core search experience if they gain traction. The latest experiments suggest a clear emphasis on local and commerce-driven use cases, from restaurant reservations to shopping journeys that could end at a nearby store. Even in their trial phase, these features offer a preview of how Google may reshape the everyday search experience in the years ahead.
OpenAI Pushes Deeper Into Commerce
The News OpenAI is moving deeper into e-commerce with the launch of Instant Checkout, a new feature that allows users to purchase products directly within the ChatGPT interface.
Shopping Without Leaving Chat: At launch, the feature supports single-item purchases, with shopping cart functionality for multiple items expected in the near future. Etsy is the first marketplace integrated into Instant Checkout, while Shopify support is set to roll out soon. Purchases can be completed using the credit card already on file in a user’s ChatGPT account, eliminating the need to leave the chat window.
Both free and paid ChatGPT users will see the new experience. According to OpenAI, product recommendations are based strictly on relevance, with no opportunities for paid placement at this time. Products with Instant Checkout enabled may appear alongside those without, though the announcement hints that the feature could play a role in ranking visibility.
Open Sourcing Agentic Commerce: Alongside the product launch, OpenAI announced it is open sourcing a new Agentic Commerce Protocol, developed in partnership with Stripe. The protocol is designed to allow merchants to make their inventories accessible to AI agents, creating a standardized way for conversational platforms like ChatGPT to surface buyable products.
Why This Matters ChatGPT’s push into commerce positions OpenAI as a potential new force in online shopping. While Amazon remains the default destination for product searches and Google continues to fold shopping into its broader search ecosystem, OpenAI has a chance to carve out a distinct model built around conversational, agent-driven discovery. Still, Google’s rapid advances in AI shopping make clear that competition will be intense. For marketers, the takeaway is clear: prepare strategies that account for both ecosystems, as the next era of digital commerce may be defined by how well brands adapt to AI-driven protocols.
TikTok’s U.S. Future Secured—For Now
The News TikTok looks set to continue operating in the United States under the framework of a $14 billion agreement. According to an executive order signed by President Trump, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance would retain a 20% stake in a newly formed joint venture overseeing the platform’s U.S. operations. The venture’s other stakeholders include Oracle, Silver Lake, MGX, and additional investors. Final approval from Chinese regulators is still pending, but the U.S. Department of Justice has paused further action on a TikTok ban until December 16, allowing time for the agreement to be finalized.
Why This Matters For now, the immediate threat of a U.S. TikTok ban appears to have eased, though the outcome remains uncertain until the agreement is fully approved. In the meantime, the platform continues to serve as a hub for 150 million active U.S. users, offering brands and marketers a vital channel to create, share, and reach audiences with diverse content.
