Walmart has introduced new tools that allow artificial intelligence agents to shop and complete transactions on behalf of customers. The move marks a major step in the retailer’s push into agentic commerce, where AI assistants handle routine buying decisions for consumers
Agent Profiles Put Users in Charge
At the center of the rollout are Agent Profiles. Walmart will introduce these profiles within the next month, giving every approved AI agent a distinct identity inside a customer’s Walmart account. The company announced the initiative on Wednesday through its corporate newsroom. It said the tools would support AI agents from ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Meta’s Muse.
Customers will be able to view purchases made by each agent separately from their own orders. They can also revoke an agent’s access at any time. This design aims to make AI-assisted shopping transparent and accountable.
Walmart said the profiles will help customers manage how much authority they give to an assistant. A shopper can require approval for every purchase or allow the agent to buy independently up to a chosen spending cap. The company cited limits of USD 50, USD 100, and USD 200 as examples.
Future Roadmap
The announcement sets Walmart apart from Amazon, which has restricted outside AI agents from operating on its marketplace. Walmart has instead chosen to build an open but governed pathway for third-party assistants.
Retail analysts view the move as an attempt to capture demand from consumers who increasingly expect AI to handle repetitive tasks. These include replenishing household essentials, buying preferred brands and preparing for events or travel.
Walmart has already invested heavily in AI-led retail experiences. Its generative AI shopping assistant, Sparky, helps customers discover products, build lists and compare items within the Walmart app. The company also collaborated with OpenAI to enable shopping through ChatGPT using Instant Checkout. Walmart’s rollout signals that AI shopping is moving from experimentation to practical deployment.
Also Read: Anthropic Previews Claude Duet AI Agent to Challenge Meta Muse and OpenAI