Walmart has partnered with Google to integrate the tech giant’s AI assistant, Gemini, into its shopping experience, enabling customers to discover and purchase products more seamlessly across Walmart’s retail platforms and Sam’s Club. The collaboration was announced Sunday by incoming Walmart CEO John Furner and Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a joint appearance at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City’s Javits Center. While details on the launch timeline and financial terms remain undisclosed, the companies confirmed the feature will debut first in the United States before expanding globally. The integration aims to meet evolving consumer behavior, where shoppers increasingly begin their search journeys within AI chatbots rather than directly on retailer websites or apps. This move builds on Walmart’s earlier partnership with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, announced in October, which introduced “Instant Checkout”—a feature allowing users to complete purchases without leaving the AI chat interface. That capability is now live with Walmart and has also been rolled out with other retailers such as Etsy and Shopify brands including Skims, Vuori, and Spanx. Walmart also operates its own AI-powered shopping assistant, Sparky, a yellow smiley-faced chatbot embedded in its mobile app. Furner emphasized that the shift from traditional search to AI-driven, agent-led commerce marks a pivotal transformation in retail. “We aren’t just watching the shift, we are driving it,” he said in a news release. Speaking on stage, Furner—set to assume the CEO role on February 1—described the initiative as part of Walmart’s broader effort to “rewrite the retail playbook,” aiming to close the gap between desire and delivery: “trying to close the gap between I want it and I have it.” Pichai echoed that sentiment, calling the collaboration a milestone in the broader adoption of AI and highlighting its transformative potential across industries. David Guggina, Walmart U.S.’s chief ecommerce officer, explained that agentic AI enables the company to engage customers earlier in their shopping journey and in more diverse digital environments. “Over time, these agents will make it easier for customers to find what they need, want and love,” he said. The strategic pivot underscores Walmart’s recognition that AI is reshaping not only how consumers shop but also how employees work. As the largest private employer in the U.S., the company’s leadership has been vocal about AI’s sweeping impact. Outgoing CEO Doug McMillon, who will retire after handing over the reins to Furner, has repeatedly stressed that “it’s very clear that AI is going to change literally every job.”