Google Opens Its Connected Apps Platform: What Changes for Gemini and Search

What Google announced

On October 28, 2026, Google introduced a preview of its Connected Apps Platform, designed to give more developers a common route for building integrations with Google Search and the Gemini app. The company says developers can create an integration once and submit it for consideration on either product—or both.

According to Google's announcement, developers can connect their software through a cloud-hosted Model Context Protocol (MCP) server or Android's AppFunctions APIs. The Google Connected Console is intended to provide a place to register, test and submit an integration. A submission is not the same as guaranteed approval or immediate public availability.

Why this matters for businesses

Connected apps are one way an AI assistant can do more than answer questions. With an authorized integration, a user may be able to work with an outside service without repeatedly switching between apps. For developers, a shared submission process could reduce the work involved in supporting separate Google experiences.

That opportunity also creates practical questions. Businesses still have to consider account permissions, the information an integration can access, the reliability of external services and what happens when an automated action fails. A convenient connection does not eliminate the need for security and clear user control.

What is available now

Google says it has introduced more than 50 Connected Apps across Search and Gemini. It identifies integrations involving companies including Adobe, Experian, Localiza and Peloton as available for Gemini users. It also says additional integrations will reach Search in the coming weeks, with a Calm integration planned for both experiences.

For developers, access to the new platform is being opened in phases. Google says more developers, markets and products will be added over time. The company also describes tools for monitoring traffic, latency and errors after launch.

What remains unclear

This is a Google product announcement, not an independent comparison or a guarantee that every integration will work for every user. The company has not promised universal developer access or a single date when all the described experiences will be available everywhere.

The larger story is the shift toward AI assistants working with external services. Whether that makes everyday tasks meaningfully simpler will depend on what integrations become available, how reliably they operate and how clearly users can manage access.

Source and disclosure

This explainer is based on Google's official announcement published October 28, 2026. Product availability and timelines may change.