Walmart Launches Agent Gateway to Enable AI-Driven Shopping
Walmart has announced the launch of its 'Agent Gateway,' a new technology designed to facilitate agentic commerce by allowing approved AI agents to search inventory and make purchases on behalf of customers. Utilizing the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the gateway enables integrations with popular AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta's Muse. This strategic move positions Walmart as an early adopter of autonomous shopping workflows, contrasting sharply with competitors like Amazon that have recently moved to block AI agents from their platforms. The rollout includes 'Agent Profiles,' which will launch next month to give users granular control over AI transactions. Customers can set spending limits and require manual approval for purchases, similar to adding an authorized user to a credit card. To mitigate consumer risk, Walmart has established specific terms of service for agents and confirmed that standard return policies apply even if an agent makes an unintended purchase.
Topics: Agentic Commerce AI Agents E-commerce Retail Technology
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Part of the story Walmart to Launch Integration for AI Shopping Agents via New Agent Gateway (3 articles)