Google Opens Gemini and Search to Connected Apps

AI assistants are becoming a place where people complete tasks, not only find answers. Google is opening a more structured path for developers to put their applications inside that interface.

What happened

Google introduced a preview of its Connected Apps Platform, a unified way to build and manage integrations for Gemini and Google Search. Developers can connect applications using cloud-hosted Model Context Protocol servers or Android MCP through AppFunctions APIs.

A new console supports testing, submission, performance monitoring and authentication. Developers can choose whether their integrations appear in Gemini, Search or both, subject to review and availability.

Google says its ecosystem already includes more than 50 connected apps, spanning productivity, commerce and other services. New access is rolling out in phases, initially for eligible US developers. The launch is a preview, not unrestricted global availability for every developer.

Why it matters

For startups, an assistant could become a distribution channel just as search engines and app stores once did. Standardised integrations may reduce the effort needed to expose useful actions, while creating more opportunities for product discovery.

The trade-off is dependence on a platform that controls the interface, eligibility and how apps are surfaced to customers. Developers must also manage permissions and sensitive user information.

The bigger picture

The emerging agentic web may shift customer interactions away from standalone applications and toward AI interfaces that call third-party services. This platform is a meaningful step in that direction, though open standards alone do not guarantee neutral distribution.