By Milani Ken Monday, January 12, 2026
In a landmark announcement that is set to redefine the global commerce landscape, Walmart Inc. and Google unveiled a deep strategic partnership on Sunday at the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2026 “Big Show” in New York. The collaboration introduces a first-of-its-kind “agentic” shopping experience, embedding Walmart and Sam’s Club’s massive product catalogs directly into Google’s AI assistant, Gemini.
Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner, speaking alongside Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, framed the move as a fundamental departure from the traditional e-commerce model. “Retail was different in 1993 when I started,” Furner noted, reflecting on his 33-year career that began as an hourly associate. “But we are in a different period now. We are rewriting the retail playbook to narrow the gap between ‘I want it’ and ‘I have it.'”
Agentic Commerce: From Search to Solution
The partnership marks the transition from traditional search bars to “agent-led commerce.” Unlike a standard search engine that provides a list of links, the integrated Gemini experience acts as a sophisticated personal shopper.
How the Gemini-Walmart Integration Works:
- Conversational Discovery: Users can ask Gemini complex questions like, “I’m planning a spring camping trip for a family of four in the Pacific Northwest—what do I need?” * Real-Time Assortment: Gemini draws from Walmart and Sam’s Club’s real-time inventory to suggest specific tents, sleeping bags, and weather-appropriate gear.
- Hyper-Personalization: By linking Walmart and Gemini accounts, the AI provides recommendations based on the user’s past purchase history and loyalty preferences.
- Native Checkout: Leveraging the new Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), users can complete transactions via Google Pay without ever leaving the Gemini chat interface.
“We want to use our full stack approach to help you shape this next chapter of retail. AI agents will be a big part of how we shop in the not-so-distant future.” — Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet
Rewriting the Playbook: Furner’s AI-First Mandate
The timing of the announcement is significant as John Furner prepares to succeed Doug McMillon as CEO of Walmart Inc. McMillon has long touted Furner’s ability to lead the “AI-driven transformation” of the world’s largest retailer.
Furner’s strategy, which he calls “agentic media,” involves a network of specialized AI agents:
- Sparky: Walmart’s consumer-facing assistant, which now includes integrated advertising and real-time support.
- Marty: An AI agent designed for suppliers and marketplace sellers to optimize inventory and ad performance.
- The Gemini Extension: An external “agent” that meets customers where they already spend time—inside Google’s ecosystem.
“Everything we are willing to change—what we sell, how we interact with customers, and how we empower our associates,” Furner told the NRF audience. This radical openness to change has already paid off, with $BABA and other global retail giants watching closely as Walmart sets the new standard for 2026.
The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)
A core technical highlight of the NRF keynote was the launch of the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP). Developed by Google in partnership with Walmart, Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, and Target, UCP is an open standard designed to allow different AI agents and retail systems to “speak” to one another seamlessly.
This protocol ensures that:
- Checkout is Ubiquitous: Small and large retailers alike can offer native checkout in any AI environment.
- Context is Maintained: AI agents can understand inventory availability, loyalty rewards, and delivery windows across multiple platforms.
- Friction is Eliminated: The protocol reduces the need for shoppers to jump between apps and mobile browsers.
Market Implications & Global Rollout
The new Gemini-Walmart shopping experience will launch first in the United States, with a phased international rollout planned throughout the remainder of 2026.
Investors have reacted favorably to the news, seeing it as a defensive and offensive masterstroke against Amazon’s “Rufus” AI assistant. By partnering with Google, Walmart gains access to Gemini’s 90 trillion token processing power and Google’s “Shopping Graph,” which indexes over 50 billion product listings.
As of Monday morning, Walmart stock showed resilience in premarket trading, bolstered by the “agentic” vision that Furner and Pichai presented to the world.
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