Walmart lets shoppers buy via ChatGPT with Instant Checkout
Walmart taps OpenAI for ChatGPT shopping
Walmart shoppers can now buy items through ChatGPT, marking a new phase in AI-driven retail.
What’s new
The world’s largest retailer said Tuesday it has partnered with OpenAI to enable Instant Checkout inside ChatGPT, letting customers act on recommendations and complete Walmart purchases directly in the chatbot. The move builds on Walmart’s existing use of artificial intelligence for product discovery and personalized suggestions by turning conversations into transactions.
The bigger picture
The announcement comes as more consumers use AI assistants instead of traditional search engines to find specific products. Retailers have responded by adding AI-powered search and recommendation tools on their own sites, while AI platforms are beginning to integrate shopping. In late September, OpenAI said users could purchase Etsy merchandise within its platform, with broader access for Shopify merchants planned.
Why it matters: monetization and the path to “agentic commerce”
The shift also addresses a key question for the AI industry: monetization. Features like in-platform checkout and affiliate links create a direct line between AI interactions and sales, providing a clearer business model for both tech platforms and retailers.
By embedding checkout where recommendations are made, the line between browsing and buying gets shorter—turning intent into orders with fewer steps.
Analyst reaction
Analysts welcomed Walmart’s move. Mizuho’s David Bellinger called it a significant step toward “agentic commerce,” where AI systems can independently pursue tasks such as suggesting products and learning consumer preferences with minimal prompting. He argued Walmart is ahead of rivals that have been slower to adopt or have resisted AI integration, and said early leadership could drive additional volume in Walmart’s core categories, including consumables and groceries.
DA Davidson’s Michael Baker similarly said the retailer is well positioned to be a winner among traditional chains as agentic commerce rolls out.
Market reaction
Investors appeared to agree. Walmart shares climbed 4.3% to $106.46 on Tuesday afternoon, putting the stock on pace for a record closing high.
Bottom line
Walmart’s integration with ChatGPT underscores how rapidly AI is moving from search and recommendations to full-funnel shopping. As more platforms embed checkout and retailers open their catalogs to AI, the line between browsing and buying is likely to blur further—benefiting early adopters that meet consumers where they already are: in the chat window.
