Google Opens Gemini and Search to More Apps

Google has opened Gemini and Search to more third-party apps through a new developer platform, allowing businesses to bring their services into Google's AI experiences. The company is trying to position its AI surfaces as central places where people discover and use apps, even as assistants increasingly take actions on users' behalf. By letting external services integrate with Gemini and Search, Google hopes to make its products more useful and keep them at the heart of app discovery. The platform could change how developers distribute their services. Instead of relying only on app stores or direct marketing, developers may be able to reach users inside Google's AI tools when those users are asking for help with a specific task. That could create new opportunities for travel, productivity, shopping and local services, but it also raises questions about ranking, access and competition. If a handful of AI platforms become the main gateways to online services, the rules they set could shape which apps succeed. The move comes as AI agents are beginning to reshape consumer behavior. Assistants can compare options, complete forms and carry out multi-step requests, making the underlying app less visible to the user. Google's challenge is to build an open enough ecosystem to attract partners while maintaining trust and control. Developers will want clear terms, reliable access and a fair path to users. Consumers will expect useful results and strong privacy protections. The new platform is therefore both a product update and a strategic bet: Google is trying to make Gemini and Search indispensable to the next phase of app discovery, when the assistant, rather than the app icon, may become the starting point.