Google Partners with Walmart: "Walmart Products Now Available for Purchase via Chatbot"

Introduction of Product Purchase and Payment Features
Competition Heats Up in the AI E-Commerce Market

Google's partnership with Walmart to introduce product purchase and payment features is expected to intensify competition in the artificial intelligence (AI)-based e-commerce market.

Google Official Blog.

On January 11 (local time), Google announced in a post on its official blog that it is unveiling a new open standard for agentic (assistant-type) commerce and AI tools, aimed at helping retailers connect with customers who have a high intent to purchase and thereby drive sales.

Google explained that, by applying the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) developed in collaboration with companies such as Walmart, Target, Shopify, Wayfair, and Etsy, users can purchase and pay for products through Google's Search AI mode and the Gemini chatbot app.

This means that users can search for products with the help of an AI chatbot on Google or the Gemini platform and then be directly connected to the retailer's system to complete their payment.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, took the stage with Walmart's top executives at the National Retail Federation event held in New York on January 11 to announce the details of the partnership between the two companies.

Pichai stated, "AI takes on the difficult task of accurately identifying the products users most want to buy," adding, "It can assist at every stage, from product discovery and purchase decisions to delivery, creating a seamless customer experience."

Walmart commented, "In the coming months, customers will be able to purchase products through the Gemini browser or mobile app," noting that this will include clothing, consumer goods, entertainment products, and food currently sold at Walmart and Sam's Club.

Walmart had also announced plans to collaborate with OpenAI in October last year.