Google AI Mode adds app links for Instacart, Canva, YouTube

Google is pushing AI Mode beyond search answers and into task completion. The company said Thursday that users can now link and interact with select apps directly inside its conversational search experience, with Instacart, Canva, and YouTube supported at launch.

That means AI Mode can now handle actions across apps people already use for shopping, planning, and creative work. Google is also clearly moving closer to rivals such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, both of which already support app integrations.

Google’s examples show how the feature works in practice. If you’re planning a barbecue and using AI Mode to build a grocery list, you can connect your Instacart account and add ingredients straight to your cart before checking out on Instacart’s app or website.

×

For design work, users can ask Canva to surface flyer templates and other ideas. Google also says AI Mode can help curate a playlist for a party and instantly save it to YouTube Music.

Recommended reading

Signal tests Android phones as linked devices

The update is now rolling out to users in the U.S. Google said it is working with more partners and plans to add support for additional apps soon.

The move builds on a feature Google introduced earlier this year at Google I/O, which let users connect third-party apps to the Gemini app to complete tasks faster. Those supported apps include Canva, OpenTable, Spark, Instacart, and others.

Since launching in early 2025, Google has steadily expanded AI Mode. Most recently, it added a tool to check whether an item is in stock at a nearby store. The company also introduced a side-by-side web browsing feature for comparing details and asking follow-up questions while keeping search context intact. Earlier this year, Google launched “Personal Intelligence” in AI Mode, allowing it to use Gmail and Google Photos for more personalized responses.