The Problem UCP Solves
AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are becoming the new way people shop. But there's a problem: AI agents can't easily find or buy from most online stores.
Without a standard protocol, each AI platform would need custom integrations with every store. That doesn't scale.
Who Created UCP?
UCP was developed by Google and Shopify, with endorsement from 60+ major companies:
How Does UCP Work?
Merchants publish a JSON file at a standard location:
https://yourstore.com/.well-known/ucp
This file tells AI agents:
- What capabilities your store supports (checkout, orders, fulfillment)
- How to connect (API endpoints, authentication)
- What version of UCP you use
Why Should You Care?
AI-powered shopping is growing fast:
- $20.9 billion in AI-assisted purchases expected in 2026
- ChatGPT checkout already live with Target, Walmart, Etsy
- Google AI Mode launching with UCP integration
- Microsoft Copilot Checkout auto-enrolling Shopify stores
Timeline
UCP vs. Other Protocols
UCP isn't the only protocol. OpenAI has the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) with Stripe. But UCP has more momentum with Google, Shopify, and 60+ partners backing it.
Smart merchants will implement both, but UCP is the priority for now.
Check If Your Store is Ready
Our free validator checks your UCP profile and shows exactly what to fix.
Validate Your Store