When you operate more than 10,500 stores with about 2.1 million employees, e-commerce websites in 19 countries, and where roughly 255 million customers shop weekly spending US$648 billion you don’t just use AI. You build your own software and apps to give the people what they want and how they want it.
In early October 2024, Walmart revealed proprietary artificial intelligence (AI), Generative AI (GenAI), Augmented Reality (AR) and Immersive Commerce platforms. The company describes them as able to deliver hyper-personalized, convenient, and engaging shopping experiences unlike anything seen before.
“A standard search bar is no longer the fastest path to purchase, rather we must use technology to adapt to customers’ individual preferences and needs,” according to Suresh Kumar, global chief technology officer and chief development officer, Walmart Inc. “At the heart of our platform strategy is developing common global core capabilities that are built once and deployed across Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club and Walmart International. As a global company with multiple business segments, this enables us to move with speed as we bring consistent experiences to all our customers and members.”
Meet Wallaby
Using decades of its in-house data, Walmart developed Wallaby – a series of retail-specific large language models (LLMs) that will be used to create customer-facing experiences that come across in a natural tone while embracing the company’s core values such as integrity, respect, and sustainability. But, the customer-facing apps are not the only way Walmart is embedding AI into its culture. Dozens more apps are in process its members, associates, and partners. It’s even extending its brand into social media platforms such as ZEPETO and gaming apps such as Roblox.
In the end, it comes down to Walmart reaching out to customers, employees, and partners where they are and seeking to create a satisfying, personalized 360° online experience.
Top 3 Takeaways
• Walmart is thinking outside the shopping cart with its approach to AI, developing proprietary tools to aid customers, club members, associates, and business partners.
• Walmart introduced proprietary artificial intelligence (AI), Generative AI (GenAI), Augmented Reality (AR) and Immersive Commerce platforms to deliver hyper-personalized, convenient, and engaging shopping experiences unlike anything seen before.
• Using decades of their in-house data, Walmart’s AI embraces the company’s core values such as integrity, respect, and sustainability.
