Walmart Brings Shopping Into ChatGPT
In a move that could redefine how people shop online, Walmart (WMT) announced Tuesday that it has reached a deal with OpenAI to allow customers to purchase items directly through ChatGPT.
The partnership builds on OpenAI’s Instant Checkout feature, which enables users to buy products within the chatbot interface. Originally launched in late September with Etsy, the feature is now expanding to Walmart, with future support expected for over one million Shopify merchants — including major brands like Skims and Glossier.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the company is embracing a new era of digital retail:
“For years, eCommerce shopping meant typing into a search bar and scrolling endless results. That’s about to change.”
McMillon added that the AI-driven experience will be personalized, multimedia, and contextual, aiming to make shopping through ChatGPT as intuitive as a real conversation.
A New Retail Channel for AI Commerce
While Walmart didn’t disclose financial terms, OpenAI has confirmed that companies will pay transaction fees for purchases made through ChatGPT. The partnership marks one of the most significant retail integrations yet for OpenAI, which has rapidly expanded its platform beyond content creation into commerce and consumer applications.
For Walmart, it’s another step in meeting consumers where they are — whether scrolling on social media, browsing retail apps, or increasingly, chatting with AI assistants to find product recommendations or compare prices.
The feature will connect ChatGPT’s conversational interface directly to Walmart’s inventory, allowing users to make purchases without leaving the chat window.
AI Meets Retail Strategy
Walmart’s collaboration with OpenAI comes alongside its own in-house AI tools, including Sparky, an AI-powered shopping assistant built into the Walmart app. Together, these efforts are part of the retailer’s push to personalize customer experiences and shorten the path from discovery to checkout.
The company did not specify when the ChatGPT integration will go live but confirmed that the rollout is imminent.
WSA Take
Walmart’s deal with OpenAI marks a turning point in retail AI adoption. The world’s largest retailer is effectively turning ChatGPT into a new sales channel, merging search, recommendation, and purchase into one step.
It’s a sign that AI is not just reshaping productivity — it’s reshaping commerce.
The next frontier for big-box retailers will be who can build the most seamless bridge between conversation and conversion.
Read our continued coverage on how record-breaking car prices reflect the next consumer squeeze.
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Disclaimer
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