Walmart Embraces Agentic Commerce With New Gateway and Controls
Walmart is rolling out an Agent Gateway and user controls for AI shopping, taking a contrasting approach to Amazon's recent block on automated buyer tools.
Walmart has introduced new infrastructure to accommodate automated shopping tools, setting itself apart from competitors that have chosen to restrict automated software. While rival platforms have blocked automated bots from executing purchases, Walmart is moving forward with features designed to facilitate agentic commerce for both its main brand and Sam’s Club.
Speaking at the Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco, Walmart President and CEO John Furner detailed the company's initiatives to prepare for a retail environment where autonomous software handles transactions for consumers. This strategy builds on previous integrations with conversational interfaces like ChatGPT and Gemini, alongside a partnership with Meta’s Muse.
The Agent Gateway and Protocol Integration
At the center of this rollout is the Agent Gateway, built as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. Originally developed by Anthropic, the model context protocol enables automated software to link securely with external workflows, data sources, and tools.
Through this gateway, verified automated assistants can browse inventory across the retailer's catalog and complete checkouts on behalf of the user. Importantly, the system allows shoppers to purchase preferred brands and recurring items without exposing their direct purchase history or personal data to the software itself.
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Profiles and Customer Guardrails
To help users manage automated software activity, the company is introducing Agent Profiles starting next month. When an individual uses automated shopping for the first time via the gateway, a dedicated profile is created within their account.
This setup separates automated purchases from direct user checkouts and incorporates features comparable to adding an authorized user to a credit card account. Shoppers retain oversight by either manually approving each transaction or setting strict spending caps. Profiles can be deleted at any time, and the functionality is accessible to all account holders without requiring a Walmart+ subscription.
Terms of Operation and Returns
Alongside the technical architecture, the retailer has established explicit terms outlining operational boundaries for automated assistants. Under these guidelines, software cannot exceed user intent, access private payment credentials, or view unnecessary data.
Furthermore, standard return policies apply even if automated software misbehaves or executes an unintended purchase. Software that violates these terms will lose access to the platform.
Source: While Amazon blocks AI agents, Walmart rolls out the welcome mat — TechCrunch AI. Written by the Apixo team from that report.
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