Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon and other executives provided insights into how the company is using emerging technologies like augmented reality, drones, and AI to enhance the shopping experience. The company also showcased an AI shopping assistant that enables customers to interact with a chatbot for personalized product recommendations. If successful, these AI applications could extend to replenish various household items, similar to Amazon's Subscribe-and-Save model.
Key takeaways:
- Walmart is leveraging AI to automate the grocery shopping process, with algorithms trained on individual consumer habits and general shopping patterns to predict and fulfill users' grocery needs.
- The retail giant is also using emerging technologies such as augmented reality, drones, and generative AI to enhance the shopping experience, including an AR social commerce platform called "Shop with Friends."
- Walmart has launched a new generative AI search feature on iOS, allowing customers to search for products based on specific use cases rather than product or brand names.
- Through Walmart InHome Replenishment, the company is experimenting with the automatic replenishment of regularly purchased items, combining AI with Walmart's existing replenishment expertise to create automated online shopping carts.