Tech · 13 d ago
Walmart opens its online store to AI shopping agents
How the agents plug in
Model Context Protocol
A new Agent Gateway lets approved AI agents search Walmart's inventory and buy for their users, on Walmart and Sam's Club. It connects them through the Model Context Protocol, an open standard.
What shoppers control
- Approve every purchase
- Set a spending limit
- See the agent's purchases apart
- Turn the agent off at any time
With Agent Profiles, rolling out next month, shoppers can approve each purchase or let an agent buy within a spending limit they set.
Walmart
Welcomes AI agents
Amazon
Blocks AI agents
The move contrasts with Amazon, which has blocked AI agents, including Perplexity's shopping agent and Meta's Muse assistant.
The rules for agents
Agents may not act beyond what the shopper intends or reach payment information, and Walmart will block those that break its terms. Its returns process applies even when an agent gets it wrong.
