How will Google's Gemini AI change online shopping?

Gemini AI will allow users to discover and purchase products directly within the chat interface, acting as a virtual shopping assistant and merchant.

What partnerships has Walmart made for AI shopping?

Walmart has partnered with both Google for Gemini and OpenAI for ChatGPT to offer instant checkout features for its products.

How much did AI influence retail sales recently?

AI influenced an estimated $72 billion, or 20%, of global retail sales during the recent holiday shopping season.

Home / Business and Economy / Gemini & Walmart: Shop Directly From AI

Gemini & Walmart: Shop Directly From AI

12 Jan

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Summary

Google's Gemini AI integrates shopping with major retailers.
Instant checkout allows purchases without leaving the app.
AI is projected to influence $72 billion in global retail sales.

Google is significantly enhancing its Gemini AI chatbot by integrating robust shopping functionalities. Through strategic partnerships with major retailers including Walmart, Shopify, and Wayfair, the Gemini app is set to function as a virtual merchant alongside its assistant capabilities. This development marks a shift towards agent-led commerce, aiming to streamline the customer journey from product discovery to final purchase.

The new instant checkout feature allows users to complete transactions with participating businesses without ever leaving their Gemini chat interface. For Walmart shoppers, this includes personalized recommendations based on past purchases and the ability to merge chatbot-bought items into existing online carts. This integration represents a key advancement in AI-powered e-commerce, directly competing with similar initiatives from other tech giants.

This move by Google, alongside OpenAI's recent rollout of an instant checkout feature within ChatGPT, highlights a growing trend. Industry analysts estimate that AI already influenced a substantial portion of global retail sales. Initially available to US users, Google plans to expand these AI-assisted shopping features internationally in the coming months, signaling a global push for AI in retail.