Walmart unveils tools allowing AI agents to shop for customers

Walmart is embracing agentic commerce, launching its own Agent Gateway to manage transactions and other features for customers using AI agents, according to a Wednesday announcement. This move comes shortly after Amazon began blocking AI agents from making purchases on shoppers' behalf. Walmart's Agent Gateway, an MCP server designed by Anthropic, will allow approved agents to search Walmart's online inventory and make purchases on their behalf, according to Walmart President and CEO John Furner.

Unlike Amazon and several travel and booking sites, Walmart has embraced AI technology and is preparing for its mainstream use. The retailer has already partnered with Meta's Muse and offers integrations with popular AI apps like ChatGPT, Gemini, and others. Now, it's expanding on those efforts with additional technology to support AI agents' shopping on both Walmart and Sam's Club.

Walmart's Agent Gateway will help customers shop for familiar brands or items without sharing personal information or purchase history with the agent. The retailer has developed technology to differentiate an agent's purchases from those made directly by the customer and provide shoppers more control over their agents. With Agent Profiles, customers can authorize each AI agent they use with a dedicated profile in their account, separate from their own purchases. Customers can also set spending limits and approve transactions accordingly.

Special "terms" for AI agents have been introduced, specifying how they must operate and what rights they have to transact on Walmart's site. Walmart agents can't act outside the shopper's intent, access payment information, or access more information than necessary for the task. Agents violating these terms will be blocked from accessing Walmart's site.

These controls are similar to adding someone as an authorized user on a credit card, with transactions identified and spending capped. Agent support is available to anyone with a Walmart account, though a Walmart+ membership is not required.