Bunnings is set to be one of the first Australian retailers to sell to customers through Google AI Mode, with the capability to be switched on in the next fortnight. Managing director Michael Schneider revealed the retailer’s participation at a strategy day last week, stating that customers will be able to research products, select recommended items from the catalogue, and complete transactions directly through AI Mode across Google search, Chrome and the Google app. The announcement builds on Bunnings’ broader embrace of AI and agentic commerce, which includes a Google Gemini-powered agentic assistant called ‘Buddy’. Executive general manager of OneDigital Leah Balter said that agentic commerce would also be implemented for OfficeWorks and for OnePass. Schneider said that Buddy is already delivering strong engagement outcomes including more than doubling online conversion rates and increasing basket size through projects-based shopping behaviour. Balter noted that customers using agentic search have a higher conversion and are spending more per shop.