News: 0179786350

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Walmart, ChatGPT Team Up For Shopping

(Tuesday October 14, 2025 @11:30PM (BeauHD) from the next-gen-shopping dept.)


Walmart [1]announced a new partnership with OpenAI that [2]will let customers shop using ChatGPT . "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," Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a statement. NBC News reports:

> It was unclear Tuesday what the terms of the Walmart-AI partnership would be. The announcement also did not say when shoppers can expect to see ChatGPT integrated with their Walmart online shopping experiences, only that it's coming "soon." The OpenAI announcement is part of a broader push by Walmart, the biggest private employer in the U.S., to incorporate AI into its daily operations.

>

> "We're excited to partner with Walmart to make everyday purchases a little simpler. It's just one way AI will help people every day under our work together," Sam Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, said in a statement. The partnership could also serve OpenAI by introducing ChatGPT to a massive set of consumers who may not be as accustomed to using AI chats in their shopping as OpenAI's core user base. "There is a native AI experience coming that is multi-media, personalized and contextual," said Walmart's McMillon.



[1] https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2025/10/14/walmart-partners-with-openai-to-create-ai-first-shopping-experiences

[2] https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/walmart-chatgpt-shopping-partnership-rcna237513



If you thought SEO/affiliate marketing spam is bad (Score:2)

by ebunga ( 95613 )

Wait until you see what's going to be used to convince the AI to prefer certain products in chatbots-in-lieu-of-search systems.

Re: (Score:2)

by Local ID10T ( 790134 )

Money

Just buy it (Score:2)

by abulafia ( 7826 )

There's going to be that sort of thing from some actors, yes, but I expect most advertisers just to use the front door and pay OAI and competitors for placement.

They're going to sell it, the question is what sort of "tiers" of influence there will be, and who will get them - pushing one brand of phones over another is different than if someone wants to change what the robot says about a historical figure, say, and that's where things get very interesting.

Can't wait to see ... (Score:2)

by PPH ( 736903 )

... the new greeter.

Shopping and Advertising (Score:1)

by registrations_suck ( 1075251 )

This breakthrough technology, now being applied to two of humanity's greatest problems, which happen to go hand in hand: advertising and shopping!

It won't be long before we're colonizing the moons of Saturn and, soon thereafter, the planets of Alpha Centauri.

It's the highest calling (Score:2)

by ebunga ( 95613 )

There is no higher calling, no greater benefit to society, than that of advertising and marketing. They are allowed to stalk us like prey and face no legal reprisal. They manipulate the masses using their corporate propaganda for the benefit of foreign shareholders, yet aren't treated like a hostile foreign country.

If it worked ... (Score:2)

by cascadingstylesheet ( 140919 )

... there could actually be some use cases.

"I'm looking for a ring-less shower curtain that is actually 72 inches high, *including* the built in "rings". *Not* one that is supposed to be equivalent to a 72" "standard" curtain with rings."

That kind of thing. IF it worked ...

Re: (Score:2)

by Tony Isaac ( 1301187 )

Well, it can't be any worse than current product search technology, which throws in products that have literally nothing to do with your search.

I'm sure (Score:2)

by RitchCraft ( 6454710 )

I'm sure it will have the customer's interest at heart.

We have seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's out.