Walmart has announced a new partnership with OpenAI aimed at integrating AI-driven shopping experiences directly into ChatGPT, marking a shift toward what the company calls “AI-first retail.” The collaboration will enable customers to browse, plan, and complete purchases from Walmart and Sam’s Club without leaving the ChatGPT platform.
The integration introduces what Walmart executives describe as a move from reactive to proactive commerce—where AI learns and anticipates customer needs rather than waiting for search queries. Using OpenAI’s conversational interface, shoppers will be able to plan meals, reorder household essentials, or explore new products through conversational prompts.
“For many years now, e-commerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses. That is about to change,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart Inc. “There is a native AI experience coming that is multi-media, personalized and contextual. We are running towards that more enjoyable and convenient future with Sparky and through partnerships including this important step with OpenAI.”
Walmart and Sam’s Club are already applying AI to streamline operations and improve customer experience—from optimizing product catalogs and cutting production timelines to accelerating customer service resolution times. The company has also introduced ChatGPT Enterprise to internal teams and is promoting AI literacy across its workforce through OpenAI’s certification programs.
The companies say the partnership represents a new model of agentic commerce, where AI systems act across multiple touchpoints from recommendations to delivery, reducing friction in the shopping journey.
