Walmart is expanding its collaboration with OpenAI in a deal that allows consumers to purchase products they find in ChatGPI searches.
Walmart is the latest retailer to do so as more businesses look to reach consumers through AI searches, whether their own or those of third parties.
From ChatGPT, consumers can tap Walmart digital shopping and purchasing using Instant Checkout. Customers can simply chat and buy, and Walmart will handle the transaction.
Walmart describes the process as agentic commerce in action, as AI shifts from reactive to proactive. As it conducts transactions, agentic AI learns, plans and predicts. So, the OpenAI partnership is another step in advancing agentic AI as artificial intelligence helps anticipate consumer needs before they do, as when searching based on described needs such as for holiday gifts rather than a specific product category.
Walmart already has rolled out Sparky, an AI assistant with agentic capabilities.
The company also is empowering employees with AI tools and training. Walmart is promoting AI literacy across its workforce as one of the first partners to embrace OpenAI Certifications and to roll out ChatGPT Enterprise to provide teams across the company with artificial intelligence support.
“For many years now, e-commerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses,” said Doug McMillon, Walmart president and CEO, in announcing the OpenAI alignment. “That is about to change. There is a native AI experience coming that is multimedia, personalized and contextual. We are running towards that more enjoyable and convenient future with Sparky and through partnerships including this important step with OpenAI.”
