Walmart partners with OpenAI to let shoppers buy directly in ChatGPT

The way people shop online is about to shift again — this time, inside a chat window. Walmart has teamed up with OpenAI to let shoppers purchase products directly in ChatGPT, signaling a new chapter in how retail meets artificial intelligence.

Just last week, OpenAI unveiled Instant Checkout, a new feature that allows users to shop without leaving ChatGPT. It first opened access to Etsy and Shopify sellers, but now it’s expanding to the world’s largest retailer. With Walmart joining the experiment, ChatGPT is evolving from a conversational assistant into a digital storefront where discovery and checkout happen in one thread.

Walmart confirmed on Tuesday that it has struck a deal with OpenAI to make it easier for shoppers to buy products straight through ChatGPT. The retail giant sees the partnership as a way to stay ahead of shifting consumer habits, as more people use AI chatbots for gift ideas, price comparisons, and product recommendations instead of traditional search engines.

“For many years now, eCommerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses. That is about to change,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a news release. “There is a native AI experience coming that is multi-media, personalized, and contextual. We are running towards that more enjoyable and convenient future with Sparky and through partnerships, including this important step with OpenAI,” said Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Walmart Inc.

McMillon described the new AI-powered experience as “multi-media, personalized and contextual,” adding that Walmart is “running towards that more enjoyable and convenient future.”

Neither company has shared the financial details of the agreement or an exact launch date. OpenAI previously said it would charge companies a fee for transactions made through ChatGPT, suggesting that Instant Checkout could become a new revenue stream for the AI firm.

Walmart’s stock jumped nearly 5% following the announcement, hitting a 52-week high — a sign that investors are betting on the retailer’s AI ambitions, according to a report from CNBC.

You Can Now Shop Walmart Products Directly in ChatGPT Thanks to OpenAI Deal

OpenAI first previewed Instant Checkout in late September, initially rolling it out to support single-item purchases from Etsy sellers. The company said at the time that more than one million Shopify merchants, including brands like Skims and Glossier, would soon be added to the program.

For Walmart, the deal complements its growing investment in AI-driven retail. The company already runs an in-app assistant named Sparky to help customers find items and manage shopping lists. Integrating with ChatGPT could take that a step further — turning everyday product discovery into instant purchases made through conversation.

Walmart didn’t say when shoppers will be able to buy directly in ChatGPT, but when the feature launches, it could mark one of the biggest shifts yet in how people interact with both AI and retail.