Google’s AI Mode now lets you link and interact with select apps

Task Automation with Instacart, Canva, and YouTube Music

The new integrations are designed to move AI Mode from a tool for gathering information into an engine for completing tasks. According to Google, users planning events can now interact directly with linked services. For instance, if a user is planning a barbecue and uses AI Mode to create a grocery list, they can connect their Instacart account to add the ingredients directly to their shopping cart and check out with just a few taps on the Instacart app or website. Similarly, if a user is working on a project and needs design ideas, such as creating a flyer, they can ask Canva to show a selection of template options directly within the search interface.

The update also expands the utility of YouTube Music. When a user asks AI Mode to curate a playlist for a party, the system can instantly save it to YouTube Music. As the answer generates, the user will see an “Asking YouTube Music” status message, followed by an inline card containing the songs. This card includes buttons for “Add to library” and “Play,” which opens the YouTube Music application.

Google Calendar and Personal Intelligence

This update builds on the capability Google launched earlier this year at Google I/O, which allows users to connect third-party apps to the Gemini app to complete tasks faster. The company is now bringing “Personal Intelligence” to AI Mode, enabling it to tap into specific user data to provide more individualized responses. Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, announced in a post on X that Personal Intelligence in Search “now connects to Google Calendar.”

Unlike Gmail and Photos, which previously only gave AI Mode information to reference, the Calendar connection is the first announced Personal Intelligence integration that can also create an entry directly. With this capability, AI Mode can “add invites or other meetings to your Calendar directly,” and responses become more tailored because they consider what is on the user’s schedule. Google previewed a Calendar connection for Personal Intelligence at I/O in May and has since expanded Personal Intelligence to nearly 200 countries and 98 languages.

Context and Privacy

Google’s move toward deeper integration is part of a broader strategy to leverage the wealth of user data already within its ecosystem. By connecting to services like Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive, and Calendar, the company aims to deliver personalized experiences that rivals may find difficult to match. As Robby Stein noted in a blog post, “With Personal Intelligence, recommendations don’t just match your interests — they fit seamlessly into your life.” Stein further explained that users do not have to “constantly explain your preferences or existing plans,” as the system selects recommendations tailored to the individual from the start.

However, the inclusion of these services introduces new variables in how information is presented. Every connected app is another variable that can make the same query produce a different answer for different people. This impact is already measurable; for example, a report from iPullRank in May found that connecting Gmail to Personal Intelligence changed which brands appeared in AI results. Because not every user wants the AI to have access to their personal photos and emails, Google has ensured the feature is opt-in. Users can set up integrations from their settings and can turn Personal Intelligence on or off at any time.

While the current rollout is focused on the U.S., Google has indicated that it is working with a range of partners and plans to launch support for more apps soon. The company continues to tease that more apps and partners are coming to AI Mode, building on a rollout that began in January for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers before reaching free U.S. accounts in March.

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