Walmart and Google Announce Agentic AI Partnership: A New Era for Retail Begins

Historic Announcement at NRF 2026

Walmart and Google Turn AI Discovery Into Effortless Shopping Experiences

Today, Google and Walmart Inc. share plans to pair the intelligence of Google's Gemini with Walmart and Sam's Clubs' unmatched assortment, value and convenience.

On January 11, 2026, a major partnership that shook the retail industry was announced at the National Retail Federation's (NRF) annual conference, "The Big Show." Walmart Inc.'s incoming CEO John Furner and Google/Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai took the stage together to reveal plans for a new shopping experience powered by agentic AI.

This partnership is revolutionary—consumers can search for Walmart products, add them to cart, and complete purchases simply by conversing with Google's Gemini AI. Shopping is completed within natural conversation, bypassing traditional web searches or app navigation.

How Agentic Shopping Works

1. Product Search and Discovery

When users tell Gemini AI "I'm looking for spring camping gear," the AI automatically suggests relevant products from Walmart and Sam's Club inventory in real-time. Prices, stock availability, and delivery options can all be confirmed within the conversation.

2. Personalized Recommendations

By linking Walmart and Google accounts, customers receive personalized recommendations based on their purchase history. Vague requests like "my usual coffee" or "the same detergent I bought last month" can be handled seamlessly.

3. Seamless Checkout

Payment is completed directly within the Gemini app using Google Pay, with Walmart+ and Sam's Club membership benefits applied. Products are shipped from Walmart, with Walmart positioned as the Merchant of Record.

4. Same-Day Delivery Options

Products available locally can be delivered within 3 hours, with some items arriving in as little as 30 minutes. Hundreds of thousands of products qualify for same-day delivery.

What is Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)?

The technical foundation of this partnership is the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) announced by Google. Pichai described it as "an open standard designed for the era of agentic commerce."

UCP Features

Through UCP, AI agents can connect with each retailer's system in a standardized way. APIs and payment flows that previously varied by company are now unified, giving consumers a consistent shopping experience.

Walmart's Multi-Platform Strategy

Interestingly, Walmart also formed a similar partnership with OpenAI's ChatGPT in October 2025.

According to Walmart EVP and CTO Hari Vasudev:

The experience with ChatGPT is primarily focused on single-item purchases. With Gemini, customers can complete the entire shopping journey in a very timely way

引用元：Hari Vasudev, Walmart EVP and CTO

By supporting both AI platforms, Walmart is positioning itself to serve consumers regardless of which chatbot they choose to trust and use. This is an extremely strategic decision for a retailer.

Industry Impact

Implications for Retailers

With Walmart adopting Google UCP, other major retailers will be compelled to consider joining open standards. Target, Wayfair, Etsy, and Shopify are already participating in development, and the trend toward industry standardization is expected to accelerate.

Changes in Consumer Behavior

Pichai described it as "a fundamental shift from keyword searches to natural conversations." Consumers may transition from the traditional behavior of scrolling through search results and comparing options to simply telling AI their requirements and receiving optimal choices.

Intensifying AI Competition

As both Google and OpenAI platforms strengthen their commerce capabilities, retailers are being pushed to support multiple AIs. This intensifying competition between AI platforms is expected to result in more convenient shopping experiences for consumers.

Incoming CEO John Furner's Vision

In this announcement, Furner made Walmart's stance on agentic commerce clear:

The transition from traditional web or app search to agent-led commerce represents the next great evolution in retail. We aren't just watching the shift, we are driving it

引用元：John Furner, Walmart Incoming CEO

This statement demonstrates that Walmart is positioning itself not as a mere follower but as a leader in industry transformation.

Future Developments

• US Launch First: Initial availability for US users directly within the Gemini app
• International Expansion: Sequential rollout to international markets to follow
• Feature Enhancement: Conversational shopping capabilities expected to continuously improve

Summary

The Walmart-Google partnership symbolizes the transition of agentic commerce from theory to practice. The adoption of open standard UCP, multi-AI platform strategy, and integration with 30-minute delivery represent a new form of retail combining both technology and logistics.

How other retailers respond to this trend, and how proprietary-system advocates like Amazon react, will be crucial factors determining the industry's future landscape.