Key takeaways
- Google launched a preview of a Connected Apps Platform, “a unified way” for app developers to bring their services into Search and the Gemini app [1].
- Developers integrate through a cloud-hosted MCP server or Android MCP (AppFunctions APIs), then register, test and submit apps in the Google Connected Console, choosing Search, Gemini or both [1].
- Google says apps that go live get traffic, latency and error-rate tracking [1]. Access opens in phases; TechCrunch reports the preview is for US developers who sign up for a waitlist [3].
Direct answer: Google now lets outside developers apply to put their apps inside Search and the Gemini app, so users can link an account and take actions in a third-party service from within a Google AI conversation. It is a preview with phased access, not a general launch.
What happened: On Oct. 28, 2026, Google product managers Chips Mistry (Search) and Mai Lowe (Gemini app) announced the preview of the Connected Apps Platform and a new set of Connected Apps partners [1]. Google says it has launched more than 50 Connected Apps across Search and Gemini [1]. Apps from Adobe, Experian, Localiza and Peloton are live in Gemini and will come to Search “in the coming weeks,” and an integration with Calm is planned for both [1].
How the platform works, per Google
- Two integration paths. A remote MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, or Android MCP through the Jetpack AppFunctions SDK, which lets tool execution happen locally on an Android device [1][2].
- One console. Developers register, test and submit apps in the Google Connected Console and choose before review whether the app goes live in Search, the Gemini app, or both [1].
- Account linking. “Users link your app once”; after that they can access their data and take actions in the service from applicable Google products [2]. Google’s documentation points to an OAuth 2.1 guide for authorizing the Gemini app [2].
- Metrics. Once an app is live, developers “can track traffic, latency, and error rates” and keep control of brand identity, “including verified logos and authenticated accounts” [1].
- Access. Google says it is “opening access in phases” and will add more developers, markets and Google products “over the coming months” [1]. TechCrunch reports the preview is open to US developers who join a waitlist and that Google did not say when it will be more broadly available [3].
Why it matters
AI visibility is usually measured by whether an AI answer mentions or cites a brand. A connected app is a different route: once a user links an account, the service’s data and tools become available inside Google’s AI products, according to Google’s documentation [2]. Google is attaching its own metrics to that route (traffic, latency and errors), much as Bing Webmaster Tools now groups the AI grounding queries a site appears for.
Our view: A connected app does not replace being cited. It suits brands whose service a user would link an account to, such as the productivity, event ticketing and health and fitness apps Google lists [1]. Google’s announcement does not say how Search or Gemini decides when to suggest or invoke a connected app, so the likely exposure for an app is unclear.
What we don’t know yet
- How Search and the Gemini app decide when to surface or call a connected app, and whether ranking signals are involved. Google’s post does not say.
- Review criteria for submitted apps and how long review takes.
- Which markets get access after the US, and when.
- Whether the traffic metrics can be compared with Search Console or analytics data.
What to do now
- If your product is a service users sign in to, read the developer documentation at developers.google.com/connected-apps and decide whether to apply for the preview [2].
- If you already run an MCP server for other AI assistants, check whether it meets Google’s remote MCP server and OAuth 2.1 requirements before building anything new [2].
- Keep tracking citations separately. Nothing in Google’s announcement says a connected app affects whether your pages are cited in AI answers.
Update log: Oct. 29, 2026 — First published.
Sources
[1] Mistry, C., & Lowe, M. (2026, Oct. 28). “Build and manage Connected Apps in one place.” The Keyword (Google). Accessed Oct. 29, 2026. https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/developers-tools/connected-apps-one-place/
[2] Google for Developers. “Connected Apps Platform.” Accessed Oct. 29, 2026. https://developers.google.com/connected-apps
[3] Perez, S. (2026, Oct. 28). “As AI agents reshape the web, Google opens Gemini and Search to more apps.” TechCrunch. Accessed Oct. 29, 2026. https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/28/as-ai-agents-reshape-the-web-google-opens-gemini-and-search-to-more-apps/
How this was made
Prepared with AI assistance from the sources cited above. Editorial review by Nhi Phan (editor) and fact-checking by Jackies continue after publication; any change will be recorded in the update log and in our Corrections Policy and Log.