Walmart to Launch Integration for AI Shopping Agents via New Agent Gateway
Walmart has announced plans to allow third-party AI agents to shop on its platform and Sam's Club starting next month. Unlike competitors like Amazon, which have restricted access for assistants such as Perplexity and Meta’s Muse AI, Walmart is implementing an 'Agent Gateway' using the Model Context Protocol. This open standard allows AI agents to interact directly with services without navigating a traditional browser interface. To ensure security and consumer control, Walmart is introducing 'Agent Profiles.' These profiles allow users to set strict spending limits, review purchases separately from their own history, and require manual approval for transactions. The system is designed to protect privacy by providing agents only with the specific data needed to complete a task—such as finding preferred brands—without exposing the user's entire shopping history.