Walmart has introduced Agent Gateway, a new platform that allows approved AI assistants to search products and make purchases on behalf of customers. Announced on October 21, 2026, the technology supports shopping through Walmart and Sam’s Club, with additional controls that let customers manage what their AI agents can purchase and how much they can spend.
The official announcement was made alongside new Agent Profiles and operating rules for AI assistants. Walmart president and CEO John Furner discussed the initiative at the Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco, where he outlined the company’s approach to AI-assisted shopping.
Agent Gateway Connects AI Assistants to Walmart’s Shopping Systems
The Walmart Agent Gateway uses Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that enables AI assistants to communicate with external applications and services. The platform allows approved agents to access Walmart’s product inventory and complete transactions without manually browsing its website.
Walmart said the system can help customers purchase frequently ordered products without sharing their personal information or complete purchase history with an AI assistant. For example, an agent could identify a customer’s usual milk brand or preferred groceries without receiving broader details about previous purchases.
The gateway will initially be available through an invitation-only beta for developers and companies. Walmart already supports integrations with AI services including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta’s Muse.
Agent Profiles Give Customers Control Over AI Purchases
Walmart will introduce Agent Profiles in November, allowing customers to create separate profiles for individual AI assistants within their Walmart accounts. Each profile will record purchases made by an agent separately from transactions completed directly by the customer.
Customers can require approval for every purchase or authorize transactions within a spending limit, such as $50, $100, or $200. Walmart may still require additional approval for certain transactions, even when purchases fall within an authorized limit.
When customers first use an AI assistant through Agent Gateway, Walmart will generate an Agent Profile that they can link to their account. Users can review purchases, change permissions, or delete the profile to revoke access at any time.
The features will be available to Walmart account holders without requiring a Walmart+ membership.
Walmart Introduces Shopping Rules for AI Agents
Walmart has established new terms governing how AI agents interact with its platform, including restrictions on unauthorized purchases and access to customer information. Agents cannot obtain payment card details, change payment methods, or perform actions beyond what customers have authorized.
The retailer also confirmed that its existing returns process applies to purchases made by AI agents, including transactions where an assistant does not follow customer instructions. Agents that violate Walmart’s operating rules may be blocked from accessing its shopping systems.
Walmart’s approach differs from Amazon’s restrictions on third-party AI shopping agents, which have prevented some assistants from making purchases through its website. Walmart instead plans to provide approved agents with direct access under defined permissions and transaction controls.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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