Walmart partners with OpenAI to let customers shop directly in ChatGPT, showing how AI is reshaping online retail

Walmart is taking a major step into conversational commerce by partnering with OpenAI to let customers shop directly through ChatGPT. The integration will allow users to browse Walmart’s online catalog, including apparel, entertainment, and packaged goods, and complete purchases without leaving the chat interface.

According to Daniel Danker, Walmart’s executive vice president of AI, product and design, the feature is designed to make shopping more intuitive and efficient by “meeting customers where they are.” Using a “buy” button inside ChatGPT, users will be able to link their existing Walmart or Sam’s Club accounts and order items directly from the retailer’s inventory or third-party sellers.

The feature will launch in the fall and initially exclude fresh food, which Walmart says most customers purchase through recurring weekly orders. OpenAI has already built similar shopping integrations with Etsy and Shopify, suggesting that conversational AI is quickly becoming a new commercial platform.

Walmart’s collaboration with OpenAI goes beyond retail transactions. The companies are also working on an AI certification program to help Walmart employees learn to use generative AI tools in areas such as inventory management, scheduling, and supplier coordination. AI is already embedded across Walmart’s operations, from automating orders to accelerating fashion design cycles.

This partnership demonstrates the value large-scale retailers see in making consumer experiences more intuitive with generative AI. The integration will also test the viability of AI-driven commerce interfaces, and redefine how customers interact with online brands.