Overview
- A partnership announced Wednesday between Ulta Beauty and Google will add agent-led shopping to Google Search’s AI mode and the Gemini app within the next month.
- Shoppers will get Ulta product picks, side-by-side comparisons, and a fast checkout for eligible items without leaving the conversation.
- Ulta will debut Ulta AI, built on Gemini Enterprise, and will add Gemini to Ulta.com and the Ulta Beauty app to tailor guidance with insights from 46 million loyalty members.
- The build runs on the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard that lets AI agents pull product data and move a shopper from discovery to checkout in one chat.
- Coverage says the move could give Ulta an edge over Sephora as more people research with AI agents, which Bain estimates now includes 30% to 45% of U.S. consumers.