In an effort to expand the practical utility of artificial intelligence across its core products, Google has introduced its Connected Apps Platform. This initiative provides businesses and software creators with a structured pathway to hook their applications directly into AI-driven experiences across Google Search and the Gemini application. The goal is to allow people to trigger specific actions and access external digital tools without having to leave the AI interface.
Bridging Consumer Actions Across External Services
Connected apps first appeared in Search and Gemini earlier this year, giving users a way to link their third-party accounts securely and carry out practical tasks on demand. For example, a person can connect to Canva to generate a graphic flyer or summon YouTube Music to assemble a custom playlist.
Similar concepts have been explored across consumer-facing AI ecosystems, including ChatGPT and Meta's Muse. The industry rationale relies on a possible shift in consumer habits: instead of manually browsing and launching individual mobile or web apps for routine operations, people might increasingly prefer executing their favorite services directly through an AI companion. To make that shift viable, however, an ecosystem requires a broad, varied catalog of integrations.
How Developers Build and Connect
Google is opening up its environment to any business or developer aiming to access users directly inside Gemini or Search. The Connected Apps Platform lets third parties register their tools and track how they perform. The preview is currently available in beta to developers based in the United States who sign up via a waitlist.
To build an integration, developers connect with a cloud-hosted Model Context Protocol (MCP) server or leverage Android MCP through AppFunctions APIs. They then use the Google Connected Console to register, test, and formally submit their applications. This setup hooks the software directly into Google's infrastructure, enabling it to respond to queries and execute functions alongside AI capabilities. Creators also retain full flexibility to deploy their app in Search, inside the Gemini app, or across both surfaces simultaneously.
Monitoring Performance and Maintaining Brand Identity
Once an integration is approved and active, developers gain access to analytics dashboards to monitor network traffic, response latency, and system error rates. The platform also gives organizations administrative authority over their presence, allowing them to manage authenticated accounts and maintain verified corporate logos. In the same way search engine optimization historically governed visibility on standard web pages, configuring software for connected agent platforms could become a primary method for companies seeking relevance on the agentic web.
Existing Integrations and Rollout Timeline
At present, there are over 50 Connected Apps available in Gemini. The catalog includes third-party offerings from companies like Adobe, Experian, Localiza, and Peloton, alongside native Google services such as Workplace, Photos, YouTube Music, and Google Home. Over the coming weeks, these integrations will expand into Google Search, which currently supports a smaller selection that includes Instacart, Canva, YouTube Music, and Yahoo Fantasy Football.
Additionally, Google revealed that meditation app Calm has joined the program as a new partner, with its functionality scheduled to deploy across both Search and Gemini soon. Google has not yet specified when the developer platform will expand beyond its current U.S. beta waitlist.
