Walmart partners with OpenAI so shoppers can buy things directly in ChatGPT

[Cpvr]

Walmart is diving into the world of agentic AI, as it invests in artificial intelligence to improve operations. Through a partnership with OpenAI, the retailer is enabling shoppers to make store purchases using ChatGPT.

Using ChatGPT's new "Instant Checkout" feature, shoppers in conversation with the AI-powered bot will be able to browse Walmart's offerings and complete purchases from within the app.

ChatGPT first announced "Instant Checkout" last month. The shopping feature lets users query ChatGPT for things like "best mattress under $1,000" or "gift for an avid reader," and buy suggested products from within the chat, without having to navigate outside the app.

With the Walmart partnership, the AI-driven shopping experience "allows customers and Sam's Club members to plan meals, restock essentials, or discover new products simply by chatting — Walmart will take care of the rest," the retail giant said Tuesday.

Walmart touts the move as a push beyond traditional e-commerce search tools that retrieve products solely based on consumers requests. "AI will learn and predict customers' needs, turning shopping from a reactive experience into a proactive one — what Walmart calls agentic commerce," the company said Tuesday.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the consumer-facing enhancement is long overdue.

"For many years now, eCommerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses. That is about to change ... We are running toward that more enjoyable and convenient future with Sparky and through partnerships including this important step with OpenAI," he said in a statement Tuesday.

Sparky is Walmart's generative AI-powered shopping assistant, designed to deliver more conversational and personalized shopping assistance.

Sam Altman, cofounder and CEO of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, touted the partnership with Walmart as one that makes "everyday purchases a little simpler."

E-commerce giant Amazon is also making a foray into the world of so-called agentic AI, in which bots replace humans. Through its "Buy for Me" feature in the Amazon Shopping App, shoppers can buy goods from vendors selling products that aren't available on Amazon.com without leaving the Amazon ecosystem.

"If a customer decides to proceed with a Buy for Me purchase, they tap on the Buy for Me button on the product detail page to request Amazon make the purchase from the brand retailer's website on their behalf," Amazon explains on its corporate website. "Customers are taken to an Amazon checkout page where they confirm order details, including preferred delivery address, applicable taxes and shipping fees, and payment method."

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-chatgpt-online-shopping-ai-openai-agentic/

 

[Axel Slingerland]

Oh, joy... Yet another way to kiss your hard earned money goodbye. Hard Pass on that.

 

[Joe Riley]

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

Keep in mind that "Walmart" isn't "Walmart."

The online store they operate doesn't only sell their own goods, but also provides a sales outlet similar to eBay for 3rd party sellers.

I've been exploring the retail precious metals market lately. Counterfeit coin sales through Walmart's storefront site are becoming notorious. Silver coins bought there often arrive that just don't look right. Some are better than others, but they all have base metal "cores" inside a thin layer of silver when they aren't completely made of some base metal alloy.

Imagine the toxic or useless crap being sold there as vitamins and supplements and miracle quack medicine products.

But oh, let's add AI to help you pick stuff there. What could go wrong? Go wrong? Go wrong?

 

[Don Alaska]

I understand that AI is now being used to adjust prices to your income. If you have a discount card or membership, AI can search your reported income and adjust the prices upward or downward to match your income.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

I've always felt that national-level online retailers are screwing people over who live in low cost of living areas.

Why should some douche from Silicon Valley living in a $2M house get the same prices as a little old lady in a shack in Appalachia?

 

[Axel Slingerland]

This is also another way for the government to see how you spend your money.

 

[Don Alaska]

I've always felt that national-level online retailers are screwing people over who live in low cost of living areas.

Why should some douche from Silicon Valley living in a $2M house get the same prices as a little old lady in a shack in Appalachia?

They buy different things. Are you wishing to make the jeans and tee shirts purchased in Appalachia more expensive or the silk shirts and ties purchased in Silicon Valley less expensive to bring them closer? The wealthy, the Middle Class, and the Working Poor all buy different things and have different priorities. Some have posited that that is some of why the billionaires get involved in politics; they simply have nothing else that holds their interest. It does affect the lives of others though and the less wealthy voters are coming to understand that.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

Walmart has come out with a review plan that is similar to the Amazon Vine program, and it is called “Recognized Reviewer” program. I was surprised when I got the invitation to be one, but i am actually liking it a lot now.
The way it works is that you can choose up to 3 items from a list of products, and then they send you that item for free, you try it and write a review. Once you write a review, you can order something else on the list.

I have ordered several things so far, none of them are very expensive, but still something that is nice to get for free. I got some solar lights that twinkle in different colors, and today I got a nice planter that sells for about $20, and it has a special bottom that stores water.
I just ordered a set of kitchen storage containers, which is something I have been wanting to have anyway, and I can get rid of the old ones that are just the cheap plastic ones. These are plastic, too, but with the snap on lids, and much nicer quality , also about $20 for the set.