From the cart to the chat: Walmart bets on conversational commerce
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has just taken a decisive step toward AI-first shopping. In partnership with OpenAI, it’s integrating ChatGPT directly into its online and in-store shopping ecosystem—allowing users to plan meals, restock essentials, and even complete purchases inside the same chat.
What used to be a text-based search now becomes a natural conversation:
“Plan a weekday taco dinner,” or “Reorder my usual groceries.”
ChatGPT replies with curated product lists, contextual recommendations, and instant payment options—all without leaving the conversation.
This model not only enhances user experience but also introduces a new paradigm: “agentic commerce,” where AI doesn’t just respond to customers but anticipates what they’ll need next.
The evolution of retail: from static search to contextual experience
Doug McMillon, Walmart’s President and CEO, summed it up clearly:
“The next generation of AI experiences will be multimedia, personalized, and contextual.”
Walmart is shifting from simple search bars to multimodal, conversational experiences that blend text, voice, imagery, and real-time behavioral data.
This means AI now understands not only what customers say, but also the context behind every need—habits, schedules, weather, purchase history, or even trending recipes.
AI is no longer support tech; it’s the invisible core orchestrating assortment, recommendation, purchase, and payment in one continuous flow.
Generative AI in action: fashion, replenishment, and operational efficiency
Walmart has been integrating generative AI for years across multiple areas of its business:
Predictive fashion: using AI to detect trends and accelerate the launch of new collections.
Smart replenishment: systems that predict when customers will need specific products and automate restocking.
Sam’s Club + AI: leveraging computer vision to eliminate long checkout lines for receipt verification.
Generative search: internal engines that deliver personalized results, complementary products, and relevant multimedia content.
All of this translates into operational efficiency, faster decision-making, and frictionless experiences—both online and in stores.
The AI-first shopping model: from clicks to context
Walmart’s new AI-first shopping model redefines the customer journey.
Each interaction becomes a dynamic conversation, where AI acts as a predictive assistant—understanding intent, resolving doubts, and closing sales.
This doesn’t just increase conversion; it also reduces cognitive effort for the buyer, who no longer needs to search, compare, or choose among thousands of options. The system does it for them—based on data and context.
What smaller businesses can learn
Even though Walmart and OpenAI operate at massive scale, small and midsize businesses can apply the same logic gradually:
Purpose-driven chatbots: automate FAQs, capture leads, and route complex inquiries to humans.
Smart recommenders: offer complementary products based on customer behavior.
Automated service: coordinate support, inventory, and orders with low-code tools or IA + CRM integrations.
Data-driven decisions: use predictive analytics to adjust pricing, promotions, and delivery times.
The goal isn’t to copy Walmart—it’s to design a smarter, more human, and more efficient shopping experience.
Toward intelligence-centered retail
The next frontier of commerce isn’t about who has more products, but who understands customers better—in real time.
AI isn’t here to replace sellers; it’s here to amplify human decision-making: helping each brand listen better, anticipate more, and act faster.
In short, Walmart and OpenAI are signaling the beginning of a new era: that of intelligent, conversational commerce.
While traditional searches fade into the background, the future will be written through dialogues with AI—systems that understand what we want before we even say it.
👉 At Lab9, we help companies apply artificial intelligence, automation, and agile methodologies to scale their sales channels and build shopping experiences that run on their own.
Want to turn your eCommerce into an intelligent experience? [Contact us today].
