Walmart is taking retail into the AI age. The company announced a major partnership with OpenAI that will soon allow customers to shop at Walmart and Sam’s Club through ChatGPT using Instant Checkout. Instead of typing product searches and scrolling through endless lists, shoppers will be able to have natural conversations that lead directly to purchases.
According to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, this marks a shift toward what he calls a more “native AI experience” that feels dynamic, multimedia, and personalized. He says the retailer is “running toward that more enjoyable and convenient future” through its own internal AI efforts, including its in-house AI assistant called Sparky, and now, through this collaboration with OpenAI.
This move represents what the industry calls agentic commerce where AI moves from reactive to proactive shopping. Rather than waiting for a user to click or search, AI learns and predicts needs, such as suggesting grocery items before you realize you are out. It is the kind of transformation that redefines not only how people shop but how retailers think about engagement.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the partnership as part of a broader goal to make everyday life easier. “We’re excited to partner with Walmart to make everyday purchases a little simpler,” he said, framing it as a glimpse of how AI can help people in ordinary moments.
Walmart’s use of AI already runs deep. Across its operations, the company says AI is helping improve product listings, reduce fashion production timelines by up to 18 weeks, and cut customer care resolution times by as much as 40 percent. It is also integrating ChatGPT Enterprise internally to boost productivity and promote AI literacy across its workforce, becoming one of the first major retailers to embrace OpenAI Certifications.
The retailer says this transformation is not about replacing people but about removing friction from the shopping experience. As Walmart puts it, the future of retail is “people led and tech powered,” an optimistic vision that combines human connection with intelligent automation.
