Walmart and Google Partner to Enable AI-Powered Shopping via Gemini Assistant
U.S. retail giant Walmart and tech leader Google have announced a new partnership aimed at simplifying the shopping experience through Google’s AI assistant Gemini, allowing customers to discover and purchase products seamlessly from Walmart stores and Sam’s Club.
The announcement was made during the National Retail Federation’s annual Big Show conference in New York City, where Walmart’s incoming CEO John Furner and Google CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled the collaboration. The companies did not disclose a launch timeline or financial details, noting that the feature will debut in the United States before expanding globally.
The partnership forms part of Walmart’s broader strategy to adapt to shifting consumer behavior toward AI-powered conversational shopping, enabling users to save time and gain inspiration during their purchasing journey. The move builds on Walmart’s earlier collaboration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which introduced an “instant checkout” feature allowing customers to complete purchases directly within chat interfaces.
Furner described the transition from traditional search-based shopping to AI agent–driven commerce as “the next major evolution in retail,” adding that Walmart is actively leading this transformation rather than observing it. He emphasized that artificial intelligence helps bridge the gap between product intent and actual ownership.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai called the collaboration with Walmart a “transformational moment,” highlighting AI’s potential to fundamentally reshape how consumers shop and how digital retail strategies are designed.
Meanwhile, David Guggina, CEO of Walmart U.S. eCommerce, noted that AI agents enable the retailer to engage customers earlier in their shopping journeys and across multiple touchpoints. “Over time, these agents will become essential tools for helping customers find what they need, want, and love,” he said.
The announcement comes amid rapid AI adoption across the retail sector, with growing expectations that artificial intelligence will significantly reshape workforce roles—particularly at Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States. Current CEO Doug McMillon has previously stated that “AI will literally change every job.”