● Covered by 4 sources · 5 reportsMedium impact5 neutral
Walmart Launches Agent Gateway, Welcomes AI Shopping Agents to its Platforms
Key points
- Walmart launched Agent Gateway to manage transactions for AI shopping agents.
- AI agents can shop on Walmart and Sam's Club websites, with user-set spending limits.
- Users can approve purchases and review agent activity through "Agent Profiles."
- Walmart's approach contrasts with Amazon, which blocks AI agents from making purchases.
- The retailer has established terms for agents, including not exceeding shopper intent.
- JPMorgan Chase, Charles Schwab, Amazon, Neiman Marcus, and Kohl's block AI agents.
- JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon cited security risks for blocking external AI agents.
- Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Bernie Sanders called for bot legislation.
- Meta's Muse encountered problems at Walmart due to verification checks.
- Meta's Muse is a personal AI agent.
- Amazon now lets select US customers text Alexa for shopping assistance.
- Alexa's text shopping feature includes searching, adding to cart, and purchasing items.
- Alexa can manage lists, track prices, compare products, and check order status.
- Users can share pictures with Alexa to find similar items on Amazon.
Walmart Embraces AI for Shopping
Walmart announced the launch of its Agent Gateway and new features designed to facilitate shopping through AI agents. This development allows AI agents to conduct transactions on both Walmart and Sam's Club platforms. The company's President and CEO, John Furner, stated that this technology prepares Walmart for a future where AI agents become more common in retail.
Contrasting Industry Approaches
Walmart's strategy directly contrasts with that of its competitor, Amazon, which has blocked AI agents from making purchases on its behalf. Other online businesses, including various travel and booking sites, have also opted to restrict AI agents. Walmart, however, has previously partnered with Meta's Muse and offers integrations with AI applications like ChatGPT and Gemini.
New Features for Agent-Driven Commerce
The new system includes "Agent Profiles" where users can manage their AI agents. By default, all AI agent purchases will require user approval. However, users can also set spending limits, such as up to $100, allowing agents to shop within a specified budget without requiring individual approvals. Users can review agent purchases separately from their own and disable agents at any time.
Guidelines for AI Agents
Walmart has established a set of terms for AI agents operating on its platforms. These terms stipulate that agents must not take actions beyond the shopper's intent and cannot alter a customer's payment method. Additionally, agents are only permitted to access information necessary to complete their assigned tasks. Walmart has indicated it will block agents that do not adhere to these terms.
Updates
- Amazon now lets select US customers text Alexa for shopping assistance.
- Alexa's text shopping feature includes searching, adding to cart, and purchasing items.
- Alexa can manage lists, track prices, compare products, and check order status.
- Users can share pictures with Alexa to find similar items on Amazon.
- Meta's Muse encountered problems at Walmart due to verification checks.
- Meta's Muse is a personal AI agent.
- JPMorgan Chase, Charles Schwab, Amazon, Neiman Marcus, and Kohl's block AI agents.
- JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon cited security risks for blocking external AI agents.
- Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Bernie Sanders called for bot legislation.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Amazon is rolling out a new feature allowing select US customers to text Alexa for shopping assistance, including searching, adding to cart, and purchasing items. This initiative expands Alexa's shopping capabilities and positions Amazon to compete with other AI text agents, especially ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Websites like Amazon and Walmart are blocking AI shopping agents, either deliberately or through existing security measures like CAPTCHAs. This occurs due to security concerns over shared login credentials and screen scraping, as well as commercial reasons to control automated access to their services.
JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, and several retailers are blocking AI personal agents like Meta Muse from accessing customer accounts, citing security risks and control over customer interactions. This occurs as agentic AI becomes more prevalent, with some companies like Walmart embracing them, while others face challenges in distinguishing between malicious bots and legitimate AI agents.
Walmart introduced its Agent Gateway and new features for AI agents, enabling AI-driven shopping across Walmart and Sam's Club. This move positions Walmart to support agentic commerce, differing from Amazon's strategy of blocking AI agents.
Walmart will enable AI agents to shop on its website next month, allowing users to set spending limits and approve purchases. This move contrasts with Amazon's policy of blocking AI shopping agents, positioning Walmart to integrate AI into its e-commerce platform.