Google opened a preview of its Connected Apps Platform. Developers can apply for access, and apps Google approves can run inside AI Mode in Search and in the Gemini app.<\/p>\n
Google announced the platform<\/a> on Oct. 28. Robby Stein, VP of Product, Google Search, posted on X<\/a> Thursday that Google \u201cjust opened the public preview.\u201d<\/p>\n When I covered connected apps coming to AI Mode<\/a> in July, Google hadn\u2019t said how an application gets added to the group of applications that AI Mode could pass work to. Developer documentation has been made available and outlines the path as well as what the policy for the platform is regarding how one app can try to get selected over another.<\/p>\n How Developers Get Apps Into Search And Gemini<\/p>\n The developer connects their application to the platform via a remote MCP server (MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, which is the open-standard communication protocol used by AI models in conjunction with external tools) or through AppFunctions, referred to as Android MCP by Google. Google states<\/a> that using an MCP server provides access to Gemini and Search users on web, Android, and iOS, while the Android MCP route provides access to Gemini users on Android.<\/p>\n The registration process occurs via Google Connected Console. Upon registering the developer will select a category for each of their applications, which establishes the minimum capabilities that the application must have and cannot be altered after registration, according to the Prerequisites Page<\/a>. In addition to selecting a category for the application, developers will be required to identify a minimum of three capabilities that will be shown to users when determining if they want to connect the application.<\/p>\n The console also asks where each app should be available, by country, language, and Google product. Google reviews and tests each app before it can be published. For apps that need people to sign in, developers must give Google test accounts with sample data, and Google says an app it can\u2019t fully test may be rejected.<\/p>\n What Google Says About Getting Chosen<\/p>\n Google\u2019s Connected Apps policy<\/a> says an app can\u2019t reference other tools or create rules for when other tools should be used. In the same list, the policy says connected apps must not:<\/p>\n \u201cdeceive or influence the model into performing an adverse action or behavior; for example, using overly broad or deceptive capability descriptions to influence the model into selecting the Connected App over another Connected App.\u201d<\/p>\n Google\u2019s MCP server guide<\/a> says AI models rely on a server\u2019s instructions \u201cto recognize when to delegate tasks to your server,\u201d and recommends clear instructions so requests route accurately.<\/p>\n This policy excludes ads and promotional materials from other companies within the integration. Apps are allowed to include their own brand information as part of the application. If developers do violate this policy, Google will have the ability to reject the app; suspend access to the app; remove the app from their platform; or suspend\/terminate the developer\u2019s account.<\/p>\n