Walmart Welcomes AI Shopping Agents with New Agent Gateway Technology

Image: TechCrunch · Source

Walmart launches Agent Gateway, enabling AI agents to shop on customers' behalf with dedicated profiles, spending controls, and strict operating terms, contrasting Amazon's blocking of AI agents.

Walmart is pioneering agentic commerce by introducing Agent Gateway, a new technology platform that allows AI agents to shop on behalf of customers. This move sets Walmart apart from competitors like Amazon, which has recently blocked AI agents from making purchases on its site. Walmart’s approach aims to prepare for widespread adoption of AI assistants in online shopping.

Agent Gateway uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP), originally developed by Anthropic, to enable AI agents to search Walmart’s inventory and complete purchases securely. The system permits AI agents to perform transactions without requiring customers to share their personal information or detailed purchase history directly with the agents, enhancing user privacy.

Launching soon, Agent Profiles give customers granular control over their AI agents’ activities. Each agent gets a dedicated profile linked to the customer’s account, with purchases clearly separated from those made directly by the user. Customers can set spending limits for agents and require transaction approvals, similar to how authorized users operate on credit cards, allowing safe delegation of shopping tasks.

Agent Profiles are created upon first AI agent use via Walmart’s platform and can be modified or deleted at any time. Agent access requires no Walmart+ membership, broadening availability. Walmart also implements specific terms for agent behavior: agents must operate strictly within shopper intentions, cannot access payment information beyond necessary data, and are subject to returns policies if they err.

Noncompliant agents face blocking from the platform, ensuring security and reliability. Walmart’s CEO, John Furner, emphasized that these innovations aim to make AI-assisted shopping mainstream while maintaining customer trust and control. This substantial commitment to AI agents contrasts sharply with Amazon’s more restrictive stance, positioning Walmart as an early leader in agentic commerce.