Artificial intelligence is coming to supermarkets. Walmart and OpenAI have signed an unprecedented agreement in the retail sector. Now, consumers can shop through ChatGPT, without leaving home or even leaving the app. The new feature will allow users to make purchases directly through the conversational assistant, using the new Instant Checkout functionality. Walmart stated that the idea is to offer a more fluid and personalized experience, where users can chat and shop without having to click an external link or go through a complex process; it’s designed for user convenience.
Doug McMillon: “For many years, e-commerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of responses to items”
The big news is that customers will be able to simply make their purchase through a chat, as if they were talking to a friend. And it’s not just about ease of purchase, but also the ease of browsing the catalog, seeing new products, products on sale… “For many years, e-commerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of responses to items. That’s about to change,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart. It’s important to note that the integration will allow existing Walmart and Sam’s Club accounts to be automatically linked with ChatGPT, so customers can maintain their preferences, purchase history, and payment methods.
This assistant not only searches for products but also anticipates consumer needs
The goal of this new format is to make customers more comfortable shopping and therefore more likely to buy more frequently. Sam’s Club customers and members will be able to browse catalogs, receive personalized recommendations, and place orders without leaving the chat. This eliminates the need to use traditional websites or mobile apps. This assistant not only searches for products but also anticipates consumer needs. In other words, people generally have certain products that are common, which are recurring purchases, such as coffee, milk, toiletries, and so on. Therefore, if a customer usually buys coffee every few weeks, the system can remind them or automatically add it to their shopping list.
These types of developments are of great help to the elderly, people with disabilities, or people who depend on others to perform everyday tasks
As we can see, with this new way of shopping, the supermarket cashier is, in a sense, being replaced by an assistant. In the sense that physical, human contact and communication in this regard are becoming secondary. On the other hand, these types of developments are of great help to the elderly, people with disabilities, or people who depend on others to perform everyday tasks such as shopping. With an assistant like this, life is made easier for groups of people who truly need it. Instead of going to a supermarket or searching for products online, users can say “ChatGPT, add toilet paper to the shopping list,” and the assistant will take care of the paperwork, placing the order, and ensuring it arrives at their doorstep.
From a business and economic perspective, the news has been met with celebration. Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, said: “We are excited to partner with Walmart to simplify everyday shopping. It’s just one of the ways AI will help people every day thanks to our work together.” Meanwhile, according to El País, Walmart shares rose 5% following the news, reaching their highest level of the year on Wall Street.
And from a more practical perspective, there’s a relevant privacy issue. Customers must feel secure in allowing an AI to manage their data and transactions. It will be key to transparently define what information is shared between Walmart and OpenAI, and how it is protected. In any case, these uncertainties must be resolved quickly, as the competition is hot on their heels. Giants like Amazon and Google are already working on similar features for online sales.
