Walmart launches tools that let AI agents shop on its site

In short: Walmart says it will let approved AI agents shop on Walmart and Sam’s Club for customers, with new controls for spending and approvals.

What happened

Walmart announced a set of new tools aimed at “AI agents,” which are AI assistants that can take actions for you, like searching for items and placing an order. The company says its new Agent Gateway will help approved agents connect to Walmart’s online store and complete purchases.

This comes shortly after Amazon began blocking AI agents from making purchases on its site, according to TechCrunch. Other sites, including some travel and booking companies, have also tried to keep these automated shoppers out.

Walmart’s system is built to work with agents from apps people already use, including ChatGPT and Google Gemini, and through a partnership with Meta’s Muse. Walmart says the Agent Gateway can help you shop for your usual brands without handing over your full personal shopping history to the agent.

Walmart also said it has built controls so people can separate what an AI agent buys from what they buy themselves. Next month, Walmart plans to roll out “Agent Profiles,” which work like giving each assistant its own permission slip inside your Walmart account. Customers can require approval for every purchase or allow purchases up to a spending limit, similar to setting a cap for an authorized user on a credit card.

Walmart says AI agents will not be able to access customers’ payment information and can only use the information needed for a task. Agents that break Walmart’s rules can be blocked.

Why it matters

If AI assistants become a common way to shop, Walmart is positioning its site to work with them instead of fighting them. For shoppers, the key question is trust, and Walmart is trying to address that with clearer permissions, spending limits, and normal return policies even when an agent makes a mistake.

Source: TechCrunch AI