Walmart Partners With Google’s Gemini to Bring AI-Powered Shopping to Customers

Walmart and Google announced a new partnership that will allow shoppers to use Google’s AI assistant Gemini to more easily find and buy products from Walmart and its warehouse club, Sam’s Club. The announcement was made on stage at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York.

Under the collaboration, customers will be able to interact with Gemini to search for items, get recommendations, and complete purchases more seamlessly. While the companies did not disclose financial terms or a launch date, they said the experience will roll out first in the U.S. before expanding internationally.

The move is part of Walmart’s broader push to stay relevant as consumer behavior shifts toward AI-driven shopping. In October, Walmart struck a separate deal with OpenAI to enable purchases through ChatGPT’s Instant Checkout, allowing users to buy items without leaving the chatbot. Similar integrations have launched with retailers such as Etsy and Shopify merchants.

Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner said the company is embracing what he called the next evolution of retail. “The transition from traditional web or app search to agent-led commerce represents the next great evolution,” he said, adding that Walmart is focused on closing the gap between customer intent and purchase.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai described the partnership as part of a “transformative” moment for AI adoption, as assistants move beyond answering questions to actively helping users complete tasks.

Walmart already operates its own AI chatbot, Sparky, within its app, but executives acknowledge that shoppers increasingly begin their journeys outside Walmart’s digital properties. By integrating with Gemini, the retailer hopes to reach customers earlier and in more contexts.

As the largest private employer in the U.S., Walmart has also emphasized that AI will reshape how work gets done. Outgoing CEO Doug McMillon has said the technology will ultimately affect “literally every job,” underscoring how central AI has become to Walmart’s long-term strategy.