# Retail Roundup: Google’s New AI Tools, and Kroger Grows Ad Revenue

> Source: <https://www.adweek.com/commerce/retail-roundup-googles-new-ai-tools-and-kroger-grows-ad-revenue/>
> Published: 2026-09-18 06:00:00+00:00

Commerce media is moving deeper into the transaction.

This week brought another wave of AI-powered shopping announcements. But the bigger story may be what’s happening underneath: Retailers are integrating advertising, loyalty, commerce, and measurement.

#### 1. Google rolls out AI tools ahead of the holidays

Google is opening up more AI-powered shopping ahead of the holidays.

New updates include AI performance insights in Merchant Center, a tool that manages brands’ ecommerce catalog to show products across Google’s properties.

Google also expanded the capabilities of [Universal Commerce Protocol (](https://www.adweek.com/commerce/google-and-walmart-join-forces-to-shape-the-future-of-retail/)UCP), and unveiled new tools designed to help merchants understand how consumers are discovering products through conversational experiences.

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