Walmart and Google Deploy AI Agents to Redefine Online Shopping
Walmart and Google bet on AI agents to reshape how people shop online
Google and Walmart Inc. said they plan to pair Google’s Gemini AI with the product selection and retail operations of Walmart and Sam’s Club, aiming to support new ways people discover and buy items online.
The companies framed the effort around the rise of “agentic” AI, in which AI systems can assist users across steps of a task rather than only answering questions. The partnership is positioned as a way to combine Gemini’s capabilities with Walmart’s assortment, value, and convenience.
For Walmart, the announcement reflects a shift in how customers begin their shopping journeys. As more searches start inside AI chatbots instead of within a retailer’s own app or website, Walmart says it is adjusting its digital strategy to stay present where customers are looking for help and recommendations.
In a statement, David Guggina, Walmart U.S. chief ecommerce officer, said agentic AI “helps us meet customers earlier in their shopping journey and in more places.”
The move underscores a broader change in online commerce: discovery is increasingly happening through AI-driven interfaces, prompting retailers and tech platforms to integrate shopping tools into conversational experiences rather than relying solely on traditional search bars and storefront-style apps.
