Walmart is redefining the retail experience for the AI era in partnership with OpenAI by embedding intelligent shopping capabilities directly into ChatGPT, allowing customers to search, plan, and purchase directly through the chatbot interface.
Walmart has announced a partnership with OpenAI to introduce AI-first shopping directly within ChatGPT, enabling Walmart customers and Sam’s Club members to browse, plan, and complete purchases through conversational interactions.
The initiative represents a key step in Walmart’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence across its retail ecosystem, combining the company’s vast product assortment, competitive pricing, and delivery capabilities with advanced AI technology.
The collaboration allows customers to shop seamlessly for everyday essentials, plan meals, or explore new products, with AI guiding recommendations and facilitating instant checkout. By shifting retail from reactive to predictive, Walmart seeks to make the shopping journey more personalized, proactive, and efficient, helping customers anticipate their needs before they arise.
This development builds on Walmart’s long-standing journey with AI. Over the past several years, the company has deployed AI to enhance inventory management, improve product recommendations, optimize supply chains, reduce fashion production timelines, and streamline customer service, cutting resolution times by up to 40%.
Sam’s Club has also incorporated AI-powered robots for inventory tracking and demand forecasting, while fulfillment centers leverage machine learning to optimize logistics. Walmart also promotes AI literacy among associates, introducing tools and training programs, including OpenAI Certifications and ChatGPT Enterprise for teams across the company.
Doug McMillon, President and CEO of Walmart Inc., described the initiative as part of a more convenient and engaging shopping future, noting that AI experiences will move beyond static search results to multi-media, contextual interactions. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, highlighted that the partnership aims to simplify everyday purchases and make AI a practical tool for consumers.
By combining human insight with AI capabilities, Walmart and Sam’s Club aim to remove friction, enhance personalization, and redefine what it means to shop in the digital age, reinforcing the company’s mission to help people save money and live better.
