Walmart and Google plan AI-powered shopping

Walmart (WMT) and Google (GOOGL) said they will integrate AI-powered shopping into Google’s Gemini assistant, signaling a push toward autonomous systems rather than traditional search-based commerce.

In a statement released Sunday, Walmart said customers will be able to discover and purchase Walmart and Sam’s Club products directly within Gemini, Google’s flagship AI model.

The experience is designed to surface relevant products during conversations, suggest complementary items, and link purchases to Walmart’s existing delivery and membership services, the company said.

Walmart described the move as part of a broader shift away from search-and-click shopping toward agent-led commerce. The retailer said it wants AI systems to help customers move from inspiration to purchase in a more seamless way.

Google said the integration will allow consumers to interact with Walmart’s offerings directly inside Gemini. The company said AI can improve the shopping journey from discovery through delivery.

Walmart said the new experience is expected to launch first in the United States, with plans for international expansion at a later stage.

In a separate explainer published on its website, Walmart said the partnership fits into a long-term strategy focused on what it calls agentic commerce. The retailer said shopping is evolving from keyword searches to systems that understand intent and can take actions on a customer’s behalf.

Walmart said it has been building toward this model for nearly a decade. The company said it recently introduced an internal framework built around four “super agents” designed to support customers, associates, partners, and developers.

The retailer said those internal systems are designed to work alongside external AI platforms, including Gemini and ChatGPT.

Walmart pointed to its in-app shopping assistant, Sparky, as an early example of agentic technology already in use. The company said Sparky helps customers find and compare products, plan events, and receive personalized recommendations.

Walmart said additional agents operate behind the scenes, handling tasks such as customer support, inventory planning, and supply chain coordination.

The company also said agentic systems are increasingly embedded across its operations, including automating merchant data tasks, shortening fashion production timelines, and optimizing delivery logistics.

Walmart said AI-powered shopping is moving beyond experimentation and is now being deployed across the business at scale.