• Walmart partners with OpenAI for AI-powered shopping in ChatGPT.
• Customers can shop and complete purchases using ChatGPT's "Instant Checkout" feature.
• The partnership aims to make e-commerce more personalized and proactive.
• Walmart invests in AI technology including its assistant, Sparky, to enhance shopping experiences.
• OpenAI's service expands its role as a proactive shopping agent for users.

Walmart Inc. is partnering with OpenAI to offer customers an innovative experience that allows them to shop directly through ChatGPT using the AI's new "Instant Checkout" feature. This collaboration marks a significant leap for Walmart in its pursuit of integrating artificial intelligence into retail, enabling shoppers to complete purchases without leaving the chat interface, according to Bloomberg and AA.

According to Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon, this innovative shopping approach shifts from conventional e-commerce methods, stating, “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.” Customers can specify needs like meal planning or restocking essentials, with the assistant predicting shopping behavior based on past interactions, as reported by CBS News and Reuters.

The integration will also shift the shopper's experience from reactive to proactive, where the AI learns and curates shopping needs, allowing for more personalized interactions. OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman expressed excitement over this initiative, highlighting its aim to simplify everyday purchases, according to Los Angeles Times.

This partnership is part of a broader trend as companies embrace AI technologies, with Walmart already utilizing generative AI tools like its in-app assistant, Sparky. As shopping behavior evolves, similar efforts are seen with competitors like Amazon, which has developed its own AI assistant, Rufus, to enhance customer engagement, according to Reuters and AA.