Walmart now lets AI agents shop and check out for customers, and says they cannot see your card data. Any account holder can use it.
Walmart introduced new tools on Wednesday that let AI agents shop and complete purchases for customers. An AI agent is a program that takes actions for you, such as picking items and checking out, instead of only answering questions.
Walmart says AI agents cannot access payment card data. Agents that break company rules can be blocked. The tools are open to all Walmart account holders, and a Walmart+ membership is not required. No extra fee was mentioned.
Amazon has tried to limit outside AI shopping agents on its platform. Walmart is taking a different path. Mizuho analyst David Bellinger said the tools add confidence to an "experimental" process, and that buy-in from top management is making it "a real thing." Walmart also says customers who use its own Sparky assistant spend 40% more per order than others.
The tools are early, and Walmart gave no sales impact. It is not yet clear which AI assistants can use them, how setup will work, or when shoppers will see them in daily use. The open question is whether AI shopping brings Walmart more customers and more purchases over time.
Walmart says AI helpers can buy for you without seeing your card data, but details on which assistants work and when are still missing.
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