Google AI Mode now connects to Instacart, Canva, and YouTube

In short: Google says its AI Mode can now link to a few popular apps, so it can help you do tasks, not just answer questions.

What happened

Google announced an update to AI Mode, its chat-style search feature. The update lets people connect certain apps and then take actions inside those apps from AI Mode.

At launch, the supported apps are Instacart, Canva, and YouTube. Google gave examples of what this looks like in practice. If you ask AI Mode to help plan a barbecue and make a grocery list, you can connect Instacart and add the items straight into your cart, then check out in the Instacart app or on its website.

Google also says you can ask for design help in Canva, like getting a set of flyer templates to pick from. Another example is making a party playlist and saving it to YouTube Music.

The update is rolling out to users in the U.S. Google says it is working with more partners and plans to support more apps soon.

Why it matters

This is part of a bigger shift in how these AI helpers are being used. Instead of only acting like a search box that talks back, AI Mode is moving toward being a helper that can run errands across other services (like having one assistant who can call different shops for you). Google is also catching up to rivals like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, which already offer ways to connect outside apps.

Source: TechCrunch AI