Find holiday gifts and check stock and sales
ZDNET's key takeaways. Task: The user tested Google Search AI Mode and the Gemini mobile app to generate holiday gift ideas. For AI Mode, they asked for dessert wine recommendations, receiving six options with retailer links. In Gemini, they requested Doctor Who merchandise, getting categorized suggestions with purchase links. The user also attempted to use Google's agentic AI (Duplex) for local stock checks but could not access the 'Let Google Call' feature, though they successfully set up price tracking for an iPad Air.; tools: Gemini. Human role: The original post does not say how a person stayed involved.; limitations: Several features, including AI Mode enhancements and Gemini shopping skills, are still in the process of rolling out and may not be fully available or stable. The 'Let Google Call' agentic feature was not accessible to the tester. Automatic purchasing and price alert notifications could not be verified as the specific price drop conditions were not met during the test period. Source reliability is secondary, based on a single user's preliminary experience..
Tools
Published on Agent Work Atlas:
Overview
ZDNET's key takeaways
Workflow
The user tested Google Search AI Mode and the Gemini mobile app to generate holiday gift ideas. For AI Mode, they asked for dessert wine recommendations, receiving six options with retailer links. In Gemini, they requested Doctor Who merchandise, getting categorized suggestions with purchase links. The user also attempted to use Google's agentic AI (Duplex) for local stock checks but could not access the 'Let Google Call' feature, though they successfully set up price tracking for an iPad Air.
Reported result
The author reported that AI Mode results were helpful but less impressive than expected, noting the feature is still rolling out. Gemini provided useful categorized suggestions and links. The agentic AI's 'Let Google Call' feature was inaccessible during testing. Price tracking was easy to set up, but the author could not fully test the automatic purchase or notification functionality because the target price had not yet been reached.
Human role
The original post does not say how a person stayed involved.
Limitations
Several features, including AI Mode enhancements and Gemini shopping skills, are still in the process of rolling out and may not be fully available or stable. The 'Let Google Call' agentic feature was not accessible to the tester. Automatic purchasing and price alert notifications could not be verified as the specific price drop conditions were not met during the test period. Source reliability is secondary, based on a single user's preliminary experience.
Try it
Act as a shopping assistant using Google AI tools. First, ask me for the specific gift recipient's interests and my budget. Use Google Search AI Mode to generate three distinct gift categories with natural language queries. Then, use the Gemini app to find specific products within those categories, ensuring you provide retailer links. Finally, propose a price tracking setup for one high-value item. Before executing any price tracking or calling features, show me the proposed parameters for approval. Do not attempt to make actual purchases. If a feature like 'Let Google Call' is unavailable, note it and proceed with manual search alternatives. Confirm each step with me before moving to the next.
Source reports are not independently verified. Publication date is the catalog publication date, not the original article date.