Walmart brings AI-powered tools to the in-store experience

Walmart is bringing AI-powered tools to the in-store experience, and shoppers who use the technology are spending 25% more on average, according to Tracy Poulliot, SVP of shopping experiences at Walmart US.

When Walmart announced its partnership with OpenAI last month, the retail giant primarily focused on how the integration would allow shoppers to purchase items through ChatGPT’s Instant Checkout. In other words, it was all about updating the e-commerce experience. CEO Doug McMillon even called the tech a replacement for the search bar.

The new announcement significantly expands the ambit of Walmart’s AI capabilities, effectively extending some of the benefits of online shopping to the in-store experience. Using the Walmart app, customers can now search for sales and promotions, compare prices, and look up the availability and location of items at any Walmart store. They can also create wish lists sortable by aisle, “turning the trip into a quick, easy, and joyfully organized shopping experience,” per the company.

In addition, Walmart revealed new capabilities for its GenAI-powered digital assistant, Sparky, including curated shopping lists, short audio clips based on product descriptions and reviews, and digital showrooms where customers can mix and match products against an immersive backdrop, including holiday-themed scenes.

The announcement came just a few days before rival Amazon signed a $38 billion deal with OpenAI. The artificial intelligence company will now run workloads on Amazon Web Services’s Nvidia chip-powered infrastructure.

These are just the latest instances of retailers cozying up to the leading AI provider. As chatbots such as ChatGPT become a major shopping channel for online shoppers, many retailers are choosing to integrate and partner with OpenAI rather than wait on the sidelines. Walmart’s partnership with OpenAI is just one of the highest-profile collaborations. Platforms such as Etsy and Shopify have also struck deals.