Google Protocol

Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)

Google's open standard that enables Gemini AI agents to discover products, negotiate checkout, and complete purchases — directly inside AI experiences.

Launched January 2026. Powers Gemini Commerce, Google Shopping AI, and Android-native checkout.

Check My UCP Readiness Compare UCP vs ACP

What is UCP?

The Universal Commerce Protocol is Google's framework for enabling AI-powered commerce across its ecosystem — Gemini, Google Shopping, Google Pay, and Android. It defines a shared language between AI agents and merchants so shoppers can complete purchases without leaving their AI assistant.

Think of it as the API contract between Gemini and your store. When a user asks Gemini "buy me running shoes under $100", UCP is the protocol that lets Gemini query your catalog, create a cart, and process payment — all without a browser tab.

Google

Gemini

Google Pay

Jan 2026

UCP covers

Product discovery & catalog

Capability negotiation

Cart & order creation

Google Pay checkout

Post-purchase tracking

How UCP Works

Five steps from a user's AI query to a completed purchase.

Step 1

Discovery

Gemini fetches your merchant profile from /.well-known/ucp and reads your product capabilities.

Step 2

Capability negotiation

Agent and merchant agree on checkout mode, payment handlers (Google Pay), and fulfillment options.

Step 3

Cart & order

Agent calls your checkout API to create a session and add items on behalf of the user.

Step 4

Payment

Agent triggers Google Pay when the session is ready. Your payment processor handles the transaction.

Step 5

Post-purchase

You send order status and tracking back to the agent so the user stays informed inside Gemini.

Who needs UCP?

Brands

List products for Gemini-driven checkout without giving up your customer relationship. You stay merchant of record.

Marketplaces

Make your inventory discoverable via Gemini. One integration lets all your merchants participate in AI commerce.

Payment providers

Support UCP payment primitives so merchants can offer Google Pay inside AI experiences.

Agencies

Implement UCP for clients via Merchant Center, Shopify, or custom stacks. Use our playbooks and tools.

UCP vs ACP: Do I need both?

UCP covers Google/Gemini. ACP covers ChatGPT. Together they reach 1.1B+ AI commerce users. Most brands implement both — Asva AI gives you a unified integration layer that connects to both protocols from one platform.

Full ACP vs UCP breakdown

Check readiness for both →

UCP Readiness Checklist

Six things every merchant needs before Gemini can complete checkout with your store.

Google Merchant Center feed configured

Business profile published (capabilities listed)

Checkout API endpoints live and tested

Order webhook configured for post-purchase

/.well-known/ucp manifest published

Most missed

Google Pay payment handler enabled

Run my UCP audit — free

UCP — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)?+

UCP is Google's open standard that lets AI assistants — primarily Gemini — discover products, negotiate checkout capabilities, and complete purchases on behalf of users. It covers discovery, capability negotiation, cart, payment, and post-purchase, so shoppers can buy directly inside AI experiences without leaving.

How is UCP different from ACP?+

UCP is Google's protocol — it powers Gemini Commerce and Google Shopping AI, with Google Pay as the payment rail. ACP is OpenAI's protocol — it powers ChatGPT Shopping via Stripe. Both serve the same goal (AI-native checkout) but for different ecosystems. Most brands need both for full coverage.

Do I need both UCP and ACP?+

Yes, if you want full AI commerce coverage. UCP gives you Gemini + Google (3B+ Android users). ACP gives you ChatGPT Shopping (900M+ users). Asva AI lets you connect to both from one platform.

How do I check if my site is UCP-ready?+

Use our free Agentic Readiness Score — enter your domain and we audit your .well-known/ucp manifest, product feeds, checkout endpoints, and trust signals. You'll get a score from 0–100 with a specific remediation list.

Is UCP replacing Google Merchant Center?+

No. UCP builds on top of Merchant Center and existing infrastructure. Merchant Center handles your feeds and catalog; UCP adds the standard way for AI agents to discover and complete checkout with your store.

Is UCP available for Shopify stores?+

Yes. Shopify offers native UCP support. You can also implement UCP via Google Merchant Center or on a custom stack. Asva AI provides implementation playbooks for all three paths.

Built for Your Existing Stack

Asva AI integrates seamlessly with the world's leading commerce, marketing, and analytics platforms.

Get UCP-Ready in 15 Minutes

Asva AI audits your store's UCP readiness, generates your .well-known/ucp manifest, and guides implementation for Google Merchant Center, Shopify, or custom stacks.

Book a Demo