BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is laying the groundwork for a radical shift in retail, positioning agentic artificial intelligence (AI)—autonomous systems that act on behalf of users—as a core component of its strategy to streamline operations, personalize shopping experiences, and redefine how consumers interact with technology.
The company’s newly released Retail Rewired Report 2025 highlights how shoppers are increasingly turning to AI-driven recommendations, appreciating their utility and speed and trusting them nearly as much as social influencers. According to the report, 27% of respondents preferred AI suggestions to influencer endorsements, reflecting growing comfort with machine-led guidance in daily purchasing decisions.
“AI is no longer hype—it’s helpful,” said Desiree Gosby, Walmart’s SVP of Tech Strategy & Emerging Tech. “Consumers are looking for practical solutions that save time, reduce complexity, and make everyday shopping easier.”
Walmart’s deeper embrace of agentic AI, as outlined in a recent blog post by Walmart U.S. chief technology officer Hari Vasudev, marks a strategic evolution from assistive tools to intelligent, autonomous agents embedded across the retail ecosystem. These agents are designed to handle tasks ranging from item comparison and price monitoring to automating customer service queries and optimizing in-store associate workflows.
“Our approach to agentic AI at Walmart is surgical,” Vasudev wrote. “We’re developing purpose-built agents using our own data and models, tailored specifically to retail use cases where they can have meaningful impact.”
One example is Walmart’s GenAI-powered shopping assistant, which uses a network of agents to guide customers through product discovery, personalization, and purchase. Meanwhile, merchant tools automate data entry and trend analysis, and in-store systems support associates by taking over routine tasks—freeing them to focus on customer-facing service.
While the promise of autonomous agents is expansive, Walmart executives stress the importance of accuracy, trust, and human oversight. “Often, a co-pilot model—where humans and AI work together—is the most effective approach,” Vasudev noted.
Preparing for the rise of personal shopping agents—AI systems trained by individual users to shop on their behalf—will require reimagining marketing strategies and digital infrastructure. Walmart is developing new pathways for agent discovery, including SEO optimized for machines and advertising strategies designed to appeal to algorithmic decision-making rather than emotional impulse.
“The way an agent shops is fundamentally different from how a person shops,” Vasudev said. “We’re not replacing our current strategies, but enhancing them to align with the new era of machine-led shopping.”
As agentic AI matures, Walmart envisions a retail future defined by deeply personalized assistants, dynamic store environments, and intelligent supply chains that continuously optimize for demand. “We are building the foundation today,” Gosby emphasized, “to not just meet but anticipate the needs of tomorrow.”
With this multi-pronged investment in agentic AI, Walmart aims to redefine what it means to shop—and sell—in an increasingly digital, decision-automated world.
