Walmart is introducing tools that let AI assistants shop on a customer’s behalf, with controls over what they can buy and spend. The October 21 announcement includes Agent Profiles, the Walmart Agent Gateway, and rules for participating agents.
Agent Profiles are planned to launch within a month of the announcement. Each authorized assistant will have its own profile linked to the customer’s Walmart account, making its purchases easier to track.
Customers can require approval for every purchase or allow purchases within a spending limit. They can remove an agent’s access at any time. Agents will not receive payment-card details or be allowed to change payment methods. Walmart’s returns process will also apply to purchases made by agents.
The Walmart Agent Gateway provides a direct connection for AI assistants to shop. Instead of navigating webpages and clicking buttons, agents can use a connection built for automated shopping.
Walmart says the gateway provides current product and fulfillment information directly from its systems. It also includes identity checks, permission controls, category restrictions, and limits on requests. Companies and developers can request beta access through Walmart’s gateway page.
For shoppers, the goal is to let an assistant handle purchases while keeping control over spending. For developers, beta access is the starting point for building these shopping connections.
