Podcast Summary: The Joe Rogan Experience Fan

Episode: Google Adds Phone-Calling Skills to Its Shopping AI Platform
Host: Jaden Schaefer
Date: November 15, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Jaden Schaefer dives deep into Google’s latest rollout of AI-powered shopping features, including conversational search, Agentic checkout, and a ground-breaking capability that allows Google’s AI to call physical stores on your behalf. Jaden breaks down these technological advancements, discusses their broader implications in the competitive AI shopping landscape, and offers candid thoughts on the strengths and potential pitfalls of Google’s approach. The episode is packed with both technical insights and commentary on user experience, advertising, and the shifting dynamics between tech giants.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Google’s New AI Shopping Features (00:00 - 02:45)

• Jaden enthusiastically introduces new features added to Google Shopping, highlighting conversational search, Agentic checkout, and the AI phone-calling ability.

• References recent drama in the AI shopping space, e.g., Perplexity’s issues with Amazon.

• Google’s advantage: Gemini chatbot experience and a robust Shopping Graph (over 50 billion product listings, 2 billion updated hourly).

  “Google’s gonna really crush it in this space.” (00:50)

2. Conversational Search and AI-Powered Recommendations (02:46 - 08:30)

• At Google I/O, many features were announced; now, they're finally live.

• The Gemini app now supports “conversational search,” letting users ask natural questions (e.g., recommend a face cream for winter skin).

  • The AI responds with both expert advice and direct product options from their product graph.

• Highlights concern about future ad placement and product recommendations:

  “You may be talking to Gemini in the future… and it will have ads and basically products pop up inside of your conversation…” (04:30)

• Users can compare multiple products side by side, get visuals, reviews, inventory, etc.

• Confirms that sponsored products and ads will appear, especially in desktop AI mode.

  “You might get recommended something that maybe isn’t the best product, it’s just the product that pays the most to get in front of you.” (07:25)

3. Agentic Checkout: Automating Purchases (08:31 - 13:10)

• “Agentic Checkout” allows users to track prices, receive notifications on price drops, and even automate purchases with Google Pay (with user confirmation).

• Limited launch: Available only with select merchants (e.g., Wayfair, Chewy, Quince, and some Shopify stores).

• Draws parallels to other AI shopping agents like Perplexity’s Comet and OpenAI’s Atlas.

• Jaden shares both the benefits and limitations:

  “This is kind of a limited scope of what I think a lot of people… are hoping for… I’m just hoping that… go and buy all my groceries for the week… That’s what I would love to see with Agentic shopping. I don’t think we’re quite there yet.” (11:40)

• Google’s VP Lillian Rincon describes Agentic Checkout as convenient for both shoppers and retailers, reducing effort and increasing sales potential.

  “It’s great for retailers because it brings back the customer who might otherwise have moved on.” (12:30, paraphrased from Google execs)

4. AI Calling Physical Stores: Let Google Call (13:11 - 21:00)

• Standout feature: Google’s AI can call local stores to check prices, discuss bundles, and inquire about inventory.

• In the example:

  • AI calls “Strum Station” music store to ask about beginner electric guitars, prices, and available packages.
  • Can do this for restaurants (e.g., to check wait times, availability).

• Jaden praises the usefulness for consumers and efficiency improvements:

  “It knows what you’re interested in. I think that is a phenomenal feature.” (15:40)

• Addresses concerns that businesses might find AI calls burdensome or worry about increased price competition.

  • As a business owner, Jaden notes he’d welcome helpful, specific AI queries, especially if they're legitimate leads.

• Google allows retailers to opt out, tries to limit excessive calls, and aims for clarity in automated interactions.

  “Retailers can choose to opt out of receiving those calls as well. But I mean, it’s a lead, so I don’t know why you’d really want to do that.” (19:30)

• The feature is now rolling out in the US, limited to categories like toys, health & beauty, and electronics. Triggered via a “Let Google call” button in “near me” product searches.

• Notes a failed live demo at a press event due to Wi-Fi issues—underscoring the tech’s early days and imperfections.

  “These demos crash… but definitely this technology is not perfect.” (20:45)

5. Broader Context and Closing Thoughts (21:01 - End)

• Recognizes Google’s “baby steps” towards full shopping automation.
• Expresses excitement about the innovation and hopes for continued progress in automating shopping workflows.
• Cautions on ad-driven recommendations and the importance of retaining user trust and usefulness.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Google’s Competitive Advantage:

  “They have the chat experience with Gemini, and… the Google Shopping Graph… no one else has that.” (01:15)

• On AI Shopping’s Future:

  “You may be talking to Gemini in the future, and it will have ads and basically products pop up inside of your conversation that maybe you didn’t ask for.” (04:30)

• On Agentic Checkout’s Limitations:

  “I would like to just tell it to go find the product and buy it right now. Not, like, wait for it… This is baby steps towards agentic shopping.” (12:15)

• On AI Calling Stores:

  “I think this, this feature is going to be really useful. They just have an AI voice agent that goes and calls these businesses.” (15:30)

• On Business Owner Perspective:

  “If an AI agent called me and asked for my pricing… I would tell them just like it was a normal person. It doesn’t really bother me.” (16:20)

• On Concerns for Businesses:

  “If it’s an AI… then it’s a race to the bottom on price perhaps, I don’t know. So… there’s concerns and questions that businesses have, but at the end of the day for users and consumers, I think this is a fantastic tool.” (17:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 — Intro, episode premise, and Google feature overview
• 02:46 — Conversational search & AI recommendations in Gemini
• 07:25 — Discussion of sponsored listings and ad-driven recommendations
• 08:31 — Agentic Checkout: what it does, use cases, and limitations
• 13:11 — “Let Google Call”: AI phones stores for pricing and options
• 19:30 — Retailer opt-out and Google safeguards; business concerns
• 20:45 — Failed Google demo and reflections on rollout
• 21:01 — Conclusion: The future of agentic shopping and user hopes

Final Thoughts

Jaden concludes with optimism for Google’s agentic shopping vision, acknowledging the powerful tools now available to consumers, while maintaining a realistic outlook on current limitations and the unknowns of future ad integration. The innovation is positioned as a potential game-changer for both ordinary shoppers and businesses—if deployed with transparency, restraint, and user trust at the forefront.