Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2026-01-12 04:20Group 1 - Walmart and Google announced a partnership to allow consumers to explore products and complete purchases through Google's AI assistant, Gemini, in Walmart and Sam's Club stores [1] - The service will initially launch in the U.S. before expanding internationally, although no specific timeline or financial details were disclosed [1] - Walmart is embracing AI-driven shopping experiences, having previously partnered with OpenAI to introduce an "instant checkout" feature in ChatGPT [1] Group 2 - Incoming CEO John Furner emphasized that the shift from traditional web or app searches to agent-driven commerce represents a significant evolution in retail [2] - Furner stated that the company is actively driving this change and aims to shorten the distance from "I want" to "I have" through AI [2] - Google CEO Sundar Pichai described the collaboration as a transformative moment, highlighting the shift in consumer behavior towards AI chatbots for product searches [3] Group 3 - Walmart's U.S. Chief E-commerce Officer, David Guggina, noted that agent-based AI will enhance customer interactions earlier in their shopping journey [3] - The impact of AI on the workforce and employee roles has been a frequent topic among Walmart executives, with outgoing CEO Doug McMillon acknowledging its profound effects on every job [3]