Google Launches Connected Apps Platform to Expand AI Integrations in Gemini and Search

Image: A split-screen graphic showing a Google search interface connecting to Gemini to confirm a dinner reservation. · Source

Google has introduced a Connected Apps Platform allowing developers to integrate their services with its AI-driven Gemini app and Search, enabling a richer, agent-based web experience.

Google has unveiled its Connected Apps Platform, a new developer environment designed to simplify how businesses and developers bring their applications into Google’s AI experiences within the Gemini app and Google Search. Announced on October 28, 2026, this platform follows Google’s initial launch of connected apps earlier in the year, which allowed users to securely link popular third-party services to interact and perform tasks through AI agents.

The Connected Apps Platform is entering a public preview phase currently accessible to U.S.-based developers who sign up for the waitlist. It provides a unified system for developers to build, test, and submit their applications to be available on Google Search, the Gemini app, or both. Using Google’s Model Context Protocol servers or Android MCP and the AppFunctions APIs, developers can integrate their tools efficiently and maintain control over brand elements such as verified logos and authenticated accounts.

Google’s goal is to broaden the ecosystem of connected apps that users can seamlessly access via AI, moving beyond the traditional pattern of launching separate apps. This approach aligns with emerging trends from other AI platforms like ChatGPT and Meta’s Muse, aiming to shift user behavior toward interacting with services through AI agents.

At present, Gemini boasts over 50 connected apps from partners including Adobe, Experian, Localiza, and Peloton. These apps cover diverse domains such as productivity, health, event ticketing, and entertainment, with more coming online in Google Search in the coming weeks. New partners, like meditation app Calm, will join this integration push, expanding the range of services accessible through Google’s AI interface.

These developments coincide with significant enhancements to the Gemini app itself, which has grown rapidly in user base and capability. Gemini recently introduced "Gemini 3.5 Flash," a next-generation AI model combining powerful intelligence with fast execution, and "Gemini Omni," which enables users to create high-quality cinematic videos from text and image prompts. "Gemini Spark," a 24/7 personal AI agent, has also launched, designed to manage tasks proactively across users’ digital lives by integrating deeply with Google Workspace applications like Gmail, Docs, and Slides.

The Connected Apps Platform and ongoing expansions indicate Google’s commitment to evolving its AI offerings into a more agentic, interactive web environment where users can accomplish tasks across multiple services without leaving a unified AI interface. Although currently limited in availability, Google plans to roll out access to more developers, markets, and products over time, aiming to build a rich ecosystem of connected services that reshape how consumers discover and engage with applications online.