Walmart is deepening its push into artificial intelligence-driven commerce through a new partnership with Google, aiming to make product discovery and purchasing faster, more intuitive, and increasingly conversational. The collaboration will allow shoppers to use Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, to search for, evaluate, and buy products directly from Walmart and Sam’s Club using natural language prompts.

The announcement was made Sunday at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City, one of the retail industry’s most influential annual events. Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner appeared on stage alongside Google CEO Sundar Pichai to outline how the two companies plan to bring AI-powered shopping experiences to consumers, starting in the United States before expanding internationally.

A Strategic Response to Changing Shopping Behavior

The deal reflects a broader shift in how consumers begin their shopping journeys. Instead of searching directly on retailer websites or apps, more shoppers are turning to AI chatbots for inspiration, comparisons, and time savings. Walmart is positioning itself to stay visible and relevant at this earlier stage of decision-making.

Under the partnership, Gemini will act as an intelligent shopping agent, helping users narrow down products, answer questions, and complete purchases without the friction of navigating multiple webpages. While Walmart and Google did not disclose a launch date or financial terms, both companies emphasized that the initiative is central to their long-term digital strategies.

Building on Walmart’s Expanding AI Ecosystem

This is not Walmart’s first move into AI-assisted shopping. In October, the company announced a separate agreement with OpenAI, enabling purchases through ChatGPT using a feature called Instant Checkout. That tool allows customers to buy items directly within the chatbot interface, eliminating the need to switch apps or browsers. OpenAI has rolled out similar checkout integrations with other retailers, including Etsy and several Shopify merchants such as Skims, Vuori, and Spanx.

In parallel, Walmart continues to invest in its own in-house AI tools. Its proprietary chatbot, known as Sparky, is already embedded in the Walmart app and is designed to help customers with product recommendations, comparisons, and everyday shopping questions.

Leadership Signals a Shift Toward Agent-Led Commerce

Furner, who officially takes over as Walmart CEO on February 1, framed the Gemini partnership as part of a larger transformation in retail. He described agent-led commerce as the next major evolution, where AI systems act on behalf of customers to shorten the distance between intent and purchase.

According to Walmart executives, these AI agents are not just about convenience but about meeting customers wherever they are, whether that journey starts on a search engine, a chatbot, or a retailer’s own digital platform. David Guggina, Walmart U.S. chief ecommerce officer, noted that agentic AI allows the company to engage shoppers earlier and across more digital touchpoints, ultimately making it easier for customers to find products they need and discover ones they did not know they wanted.

Implications for the Workforce and the Industry

The partnership also underscores how deeply AI is expected to reshape retail operations and employment. Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, has been increasingly open about the impact AI will have on job roles, workflows, and productivity. Outgoing CEO Doug McMillon has repeatedly said that artificial intelligence will affect virtually every job within the company, from store operations to corporate functions.

For Google, the collaboration strengthens Gemini’s position as a commerce-enabled AI assistant at a time when competition among large language models is intensifying. By embedding real purchasing capabilities with one of the world’s largest retailers, Google gains a powerful use case that goes beyond search and productivity.

A Broader Bet on the Future of Shopping

Taken together, Walmart’s partnerships with Google and OpenAI highlight a clear strategic direction: the retailer wants to be a dominant player in AI-driven commerce, regardless of which platform customers use to start their shopping journey. As AI agents become more embedded in everyday consumer behavior, Walmart is positioning itself not just as a place to buy goods, but as a central node in the emerging ecosystem of intelligent, automated retail.