Walmart plans to invest heavily in artificial intelligence by adopting a 'super agent' approach
Walmart has introduced a centralized AI framework, designed to streamline and unify the use of artificial intelligence across its enterprise. The new system is built around four "super agents" that cater to different core groups, including customers, employees, partners, and internal developers [1][2][3][4]. This strategic move aims to reduce user confusion, foster faster and more efficient operations, and enhance customer experiences.
The Four Super Agents and Their Contributions
- Sparky (Customer-facing agent): Available in the Walmart app, Sparky assists customers with product suggestions, review summaries, reordering items, event planning, and even recipe suggestions based on pantry contents. Its role is to make shopping easier and more personalized [1][2][4].
- Marty (Partner agent): Marty consolidates fragmented systems to streamline onboarding, manage catalogs and orders, accelerate ad campaign setup, and improve partner interactions. It is instrumental in optimizing Walmart’s supplier and advertising operations [1][2][3].
- Associate super agent (Employee-facing): This agent centralizes scheduling, sales and workforce data, parental leave applications, and benefits queries. It supports store operations and frontline workers, improving efficiency and internal communications [1][2][3].
- Technology developer agent: This agent provides a platform for Walmart’s internal tech developers to build, test, and launch AI tools, including "nano agents" — small, purpose-built AI solutions developed quickly. It accelerates Walmart’s capability to innovate with AI and scale new tools enterprise-wide [1][2][3][4].
The Benefits of the New AI Framework
These agents form a comprehensive AI ecosystem, aiming to improve everything from customer support (cutting resolution times by up to 40%) and shift scheduling, to supplier management and software development efficiency. Walmart projects benefits including faster delivery (targeting 3-hour delivery to 95% of U.S. households by year-end), reduced maintenance costs, and accelerated ecommerce growth to represent 50% of total sales within five years [1][4][5].
The new approach is led by Daniel Danker, who was appointed as the Executive Vice President of AI Acceleration, Product, and Design. This appointment aims to increase productivity, speed, and innovation across Walmart's massive operations [2][3].
Other notable developments include the launch of a merchant agent called Wally, a store-centric associate agent within the framework, and a query subagent to offer workforce data insights to leaders. AI has also cut fashion production timelines by up to 18 weeks for Walmart [1][2][3].
In addition, Walmart is using AI and real-time monitoring to review product listings for intellectual property infringement or other policy violations. The company also announced its new AI approach just two days after touting the usage of AI for combating fraud in its marketplace [1][2].
Walmart's AI-driven initiatives are part of a broader trend among retailers to leverage technology to improve operations and customer experiences. For instance, Target is working to capitalize on trends at a quicker pace using AI to monitor trends emerging from social media.
References
[1] Walmart Newsroom (2022). Walmart unveils new AI approach to accelerate growth and improve customer experience
[2] CNBC (2022). Walmart unveils new AI framework to streamline operations and enhance customer experience
[3] TechCrunch (2022). Walmart's new AI framework aims to streamline operations and enhance customer experience
[4] Forbes (2022). Walmart's New AI Approach: A Game Changer for the Retail Giant
[5] Walmart Newsroom (2021). Walmart announces new executive vice president of AI platforms
- The technology developer agent within Walmart's centralized AI framework allows internal tech developers to create and launch AI tools, including nano agents, to accelerate the company's AI innovation and enterprise-wide scaling.
- The customer-facing super agent, Sparky, available on the Walmart app, assists customers with various tasks such as product suggestions, event planning, and even recipe ideas based on their pantry contents, aiming to make shopping more personalized.
- The new AI approach at Walmart is expected to offer numerous benefits, including reduced maintenance costs, faster ecommerce growth, and improved operations across various sectors, with a goal of representing 50% of total sales within five years.
- AI has significantly streamlined fashion production timelines for Walmart, reducing them by up to 18 weeks, underscoring the potential of technology to revolutionize various sectors of the business.
