Walmart Ushers in 'Agentic Commerce' Through OpenAI Partnership

Walmart is further expanding its use of artificial intelligence through a partnership with OpenAI that will bring conversational commerce directly into its ecosystem. 

The collaboration will allow customers and Sam’s Club members to soon shop Walmart through ChatGPT using Instant Checkout, enabling users to plan meals, restock essentials or discover new products simply by chatting. (ChatGPT is developed by OpenAI.)

The integration marks the latest step in what Walmart describes as a move toward “agentic commerce” — an AI-driven model that transitions shopping from a reactive process to one that is predictive and contextual. Rather than typing search terms into a traditional e-commerce bar, shoppers will engage in natural conversations, with AI learning and anticipating their needs.

“For many years now, e-commerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses. That is about to change,” Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart, said in a statement. “There is a native AI experience coming that is multimedia, personalized and contextual." 

McMillon added that Walmart is “running toward” that future with its conversational assistant, Sparky, and through partnerships like this one with OpenAI.

Expanding AI Across the Business

The OpenAI partnership builds on Walmart’s ongoing use of AI throughout its operations. The retailer already applies machine learning and automation across merchandising, supply chain and customer service functions — cutting fashion production timelines by up to 18 weeks and improving customer care resolution times by as much as 40%, according to the company.

Walmart and Sam’s Club have also implemented AI to enhance product catalogs, improve search relevance and streamline fulfillment to make shopping “more convenient and more rewarding.”

This article first appeared on the site of sister publication P2PI.