Google's AI Mode adds app integrations to compete with ChatGPT and Claude

Google's AI Mode is shifting from a question-answering tool to a task-completion platform. The search giant announced it now supports linking to popular apps, allowing users to accomplish work without leaving the conversation.

New app partnerships and use cases#

The rollout launches with three partners: Instacart for shopping, Canva for design, and YouTube for entertainment. Each integration lets users move directly from planning in AI Mode to taking action. Someone planning a barbecue, for instance, can have ingredients added straight to their Instacart cart. A designer seeking inspiration can pull up Canva templates on demand, and music fans can save playlists to YouTube Music without switching windows.

Closing the gap with competitors#

This move directly addresses pressure from rivals. Both OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude have supported app integrations for some time, giving them an advantage for users who want to combine research and execution. By bringing that capability to AI Mode, Google is working to keep its conversational search experience competitive.

Building on existing momentum#

Google isn't starting from scratch. The company introduced a similar third-party app connection feature for its Gemini app earlier this year at Google I/O, with support for platforms like OpenTable, Spark, and Instacart. AI Mode itself has grown steadily since launching in early 2025, adding features like local stock checking and split-screen web browsing alongside AI answers. The platform also gained "Personal Intelligence" capabilities that let it reference a user's Gmail and Google Photos for more relevant responses.

The new integration rollout is currently limited to U.S. users, though Google signaled that additional app partnerships are in the pipeline.