Walmart partners with OpenAI to bring AI-assisted shopping to millions | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Walmart is officially stepping into the era of AI-powered retail, announcing a new partnership with OpenAI to create “AI-first shopping experiences” that let customers complete purchases directly through ChatGPT.

Walmart’s new AI shopping assistant is called “Sparky.”

The collaboration, announced on October 14, 2025, will make online shopping more personalized, predictive, and conversational — moving beyond traditional search bars to natural-language interactions that anticipate what customers need.

Walmart is partnering with OpenAI on a new kind of shopping experience.

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Walmart’s AI shopping vision

According to Walmart, customers and Sam’s Club members will soon be able to:

Shop directly in ChatGPT using Walmart’s Instant Checkout integration.
Ask for products or ideas in plain language (for example, “I need a week of dinners for four”).
Receive curated, shoppable recommendations pulled from Walmart’s catalog.
Use Walmart+ benefits automatically, including free delivery and member discounts.

“We are running towards that more enjoyable and convenient future with Sparky and through partnerships including this important step with OpenAI,” said Walmart CEO Doug McMillon in the announcement. “A native AI experience is multi-media, personalized and contextual.”

The partnership demonstrates how conversational AI can make everyday purchases “a little simpler…” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said about the partnership.

Walmart expands its AI footprint

The OpenAI deal builds on Walmart’s broader use of artificial intelligence across its global operations.

According to company data:

Customer care resolution times have improved by 40% through AI-driven automation.
Fashion product development cycles have been cut by up to 18 weeks using predictive design and manufacturing tools.
Walmart is rolling out ChatGPT Enterprise to corporate teams and launching a new OpenAI Certification Program to train employees in AI literacy and responsible use.

McMillon emphasized that the company’s approach is “people-led, tech-powered,” adding, “This isn’t about replacing people — it’s about removing friction.”

Wall Street and industry reaction to Walmart’s AI push

The retail and tech sectors reacted quickly.

Walmart shares rose about 3% following the announcement, according to Reuters, but MarketWatch reported an even sharper uptick of nearly 5%, with the stock hitting new highs.

This is about creating a future where shopping is as easy as talking.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon

Analysts told Axios the partnership could usher in a new phase of “agentic commerce,” where AI agents don’t just respond to requests, but also anticipate and act on consumer needs.

Walmart isn’t the only retailer experimenting with conversational AI:

Amazon is piloting its own AI assistant, Rufus.
Google is expanding generative search that serves personalized shopping suggestions.

But Walmart’s collaboration with OpenAI — the company behind the most widely used generative AI models — gives it a first-mover advantage in scaling conversational commerce across millions of shoppers.

What OpenAI partnership means for shoppers

For Walmart’s 240 million weekly customers, the partnership with OpenAI could make shopping as simple as starting a conversation. Users will soon be able to:

Build a grocery list or gift registry directly through ChatGPT.
Check product availability and pricing in real time.
Complete checkout without leaving the chat window.

The system will integrate with Walmart’s extensive fulfillment network, offering same-day and next-day delivery options already familiar to its Walmart+ members.

Walmart and AI by the numbers:

240 million customers shop at Walmart each week.
10,500+ stores operate under the Walmart brand worldwide.
Walmart saw more than 20% year-over-year growth in e-commerce sales (2025 company filings).
2.1 million associates globally are being trained in AI literacy.
The global retail AI market is projected to reach $41 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research.

Walmart’s partnership with OpenAI represents a major leap in retail innovation — and a signal that AI-driven shopping is moving from novelty to mainstream.