Walmart Unveils AI Super Agents To Accelerate E-Commerce Growth — What Does This Mean For Replacing Jobs?
Walmart is investing in AI to power its next phase of digital transformation.
On Thursday (July 24), it announced four AI-powered “super agents” designed to improve customer experience and “streamline operations,” Reuters reports. The goal is to grow e-commerce to 50% of total sales within five years.
According to Reuters, the new AI agents, which are tailored for shoppers, associates, suppliers, and developers, are built on agentic AI, a technology designed to perform complex tasks with minimal human input.
Sparky And The Shopper Experience
Sparky, a generative AI tool, is already live in the Walmart app, Reuters reports. Customers can use it to get product suggestions, find printer ink, summarize product reviews, and more.
Per the outlet, as a super agent, it will soon be able to reorder frequently purchased items, plan events, and suggest recipes using computer vision to scan fridge contents, according to Hari Vasudev, Walmart’s U.S. chief technology officer.
Internal Tools For Employees And Associates
Walmart is also developing an “Associate” super agent for store and corporate employees, scheduled to roll out in 2025, Reuters states. It will help with tasks like submitting parental leave or accessing sales data with minimal input.
Per Reuters, these tasks now use separate AI tools, which Walmart plans to replace. The company didn’t say if the technology would “replace” jobs. However, it was said by Dave Glick, senior vice president of enterprise business systems, that super agents would support the creation of new jobs.
Marty And The Supplier Ecosystem
Walmart is also building a super agent named “Marty” for sellers, suppliers, and advertisers. It will streamline onboarding, manage orders, and create advertising campaigns, Reuters reports.
According to the outlet, a fourth agent that will act as a “Developer,” will provide a platform for testing and launching future AI products.
Walmart’s Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Suresh Kumar emphasized the importance of timing for this rollout, stating, “Customers are ready. They are using AI in pretty much everything they do.”
Strategic Hires Signal Deeper AI Investment
The announcement follows two AI-related leadership moves at Walmart.
According to Reuters, the company hired Daniel Danker — a former Instacart executive — as executive vice president of AI acceleration, product, and design. It also created a separate EVP of AI position, which remains unfilled.
While Walmart hasn’t directly connected recent workforce reductions to AI, it is automating fulfillment centers and cutting corporate roles, changes that reflect a broader push for leaner operations, HR Digest reports.
Unlike the tech sector, where companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have laid off employees while investing in AI, retail has, so far, avoided large-scale AI-related job cuts, Reuters mentions.
