Walmart partners with Google’s Gemini to reshape how shoppers find and buy products

KEY POINTS 

• The Walmart Google Gemini partnership will enable AI-assisted product discovery and purchasing.

• The experience will launch first in the United States before expanding internationally.

• The move reflects a broader shift toward agent led commerce and changing consumer search behavior.

Walmart and Google announced Sunday a new partnership that will allow shoppers to use Google’s artificial intelligence assistant.

Gemini, to discover and purchase products from Walmart and its warehouse club, Sam’s Club, marking a significant shift in how one of the world’s largest retailers is adapting to AI driven commerce.

The announcement was made on stage at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show, an annual industry conference held at New York City’s Javits Center. 

Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the collaboration aims to reduce friction between search and checkout, allowing shoppers to move from browsing to buying within Gemini’s conversational interface.

Neither company disclosed a launch date or financial terms. Walmart said the rollout will begin in the US and expand to other markets over time.

The deal places Walmart at the center of a fast moving transformation in retail, as consumers increasingly rely on AI assistants to research products, compare prices and complete purchases.

Retailers have spent the past decade training customers to search through apps and websites. The rise of large language models has begun to disrupt that pattern. 

Instead of typing keywords into a search bar, shoppers are now asking full questions such as, “What’s the best air fryer for a family of four?” or “Find me school supplies under fifty dollars.”

Walmart has been preparing for this shift. In October, the company announced a separate deal with OpenAI to support “Instant Checkout,” allowing users to purchase items directly from ChatGPT without visiting Walmart’s app or website. 

Walmart also operates its own AI assistant, Sparky, embedded in its mobile app.

The Walmart Google Gemini partnership extends that strategy, meeting shoppers where they already spend time online rather than forcing them into a single proprietary platform.

Retail analysts say the move reflects a deeper structural change in e-commerce. Instead of competing solely on price or delivery speed, retailers are now competing on how easily customers can express intent and complete transactions.

“Search is no longer just about keywords,” said Priya Malhotra, a digital commerce researcher at the University of Michigan. “It’s about intent. 

AI agents interpret that intent and act on it, which compresses the entire funnel from discovery to checkout.”

For Google, the deal is a chance to show that Gemini can support real world transactions, not just information retrieval. For Walmart, it offers access to Google’s AI infrastructure and its global user base.

Furner said in a news release that agent led commerce represents “the next great evolution in retail.” Pichai described the adoption of AI in shopping as a “transformative” moment.

David Guggina, Walmart US chief ecommerce officer, said in a statement that agentic AI allows the company to reach customers earlier in their shopping journeys and across more digital touchpoints.

“Over time, these agents will make it easier for customers to find what they need, want and love,” he said.

Retail labor experts note that the technology may also reshape internal operations. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who will retire and be succeeded by Furner, has said AI will change “literally every job” at the company.

“AI agents will not just affect shoppers,” said Marisol Vega, a workforce technology analyst at the Brookings Institution. “They will influence inventory management, customer service workflows and even how employees are trained.”

• Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States.
• Gemini is Google’s flagship AI assistant.
• Sam’s Club operates more than six hundred locations worldwide.
• The partnership will begin in the US before expanding globally.
• Walmart already supports AI checkout through OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The Walmart Google Gemini partnership signals a growing acceptance that consumers may no longer begin their shopping journeys on retailer-owned platforms. 

Instead, AI assistants may become the new front door to commerce. Industry observers say the next challenge will be trust. 

AI agents must accurately reflect prices, availability and return policies while protecting user data. 

Regulators in several countries are already examining how AI-driven commerce handles transparency and consumer protection.

The collaboration between Walmart and Google underscores how rapidly the retail landscape is changing. 

As AI assistants move from novelty tools to primary shopping gateways, companies that integrate early may gain a competitive advantage. 

For Walmart, the partnership with Gemini is not just a technology upgrade but a strategic bet on how consumers will search, decide and buy in the coming decade.

Author’s Perspective

In my analysis, Walmart’s Gemini integration signals a shift toward AI-driven agent commerce, where conversational interfaces streamline the path from search to purchase and reshape digital retail strategies.

I predict that at least 40 percent of major US retailers will adopt AI assistants capable of completing full transactions, setting a new standard for customer experience and operational efficiency.

For consumers, this means faster, more intuitive shopping, while businesses must optimize product data and semantic tags to remain discoverable in AI-powered ecosystems.

Audit your digital catalog for AI compatibility and test conversational queries to ensure visibility on agent led platforms.

NOTE! This report was compiled from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage.