Retail giant Walmart announced a new partnership with artificial intelligence company OpenAI. This will allow users to purchase Walmart products directly through ChatGPT, covering categories such as groceries (excluding fresh produce) and household goods, with instant checkout. This "agent shopping" feature will also help Sam's Club members plan meals, stock up on essentials, and discover new products. Customers will need to link their Walmart account to the ChatGPT app and click a "Buy" button to complete their orders. This feature is scheduled to launch later this fall and will also support products from third-party sellers.
This partnership marks OpenAI's latest foray into e-commerce. The company previously announced the launch of an "agent shopping system" with product discovery, recommendation, and payment capabilities, initially prioritizing Etsy and Shopify merchants. Walmart stated that the new agreement will enhance its ability to predict customer needs and shift online shopping from passive search to personalized, proactive service. Notably, Walmart also launched its own AI shopping assistant, "Sparky," which will support multimodal input and automatic repurchase capabilities.
The partnership between the two parties already has a solid foundation. Walmart has already adopted OpenAI's certified courses and ChatGPT Enterprise Edition tools. Its AI technology has significantly shortened product development cycles and improved customer service efficiency. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon emphasized that the traditional e-commerce search box model will be disrupted, and native AI shopping experiences will integrate multimedia and personalization. This collaboration marks a key step forward in the retail industry's journey toward intelligent and convenient shopping.
