Walmart is betting heavily on artificial intelligence, but the world’s largest retailer wants its workforce to believe that the technology is there to support employees, not replace them.
Speaking at the company’s annual Associates Week event in Bentonville, Arkansas, executives outlined an AI-driven future in which digital tools help workers solve problems, streamline operations and improve customer experiences. The message comes at a time when many employees across industries are increasingly concerned that AI could eventually eliminate jobs.
The reassurance is notable given the broader backdrop. According to data cited by the Financial Times, AI has been the most frequently cited reason for workforce reductions by US companies over the past three months. Walmart itself recently cut hundreds of positions within its technology and product design divisions, though the company did not link those layoffs to artificial intelligence.
Against that backdrop, Walmart leaders sought to frame AI as a productivity tool rather than a workforce replacement strategy.
Walmart doubles down on AI across the business
The retailer has accelerated its AI push over the past year, including the recruitment of former Instacart executive Daniel Danker to oversee AI acceleration, product development and design.
At the gathering, attended by thousands of employees, Walmart announced that any US-based worker can now earn certification in OpenAI technologies, further embedding AI into the company’s day-to-day operations.
Executives highlighted examples of how employees are already using AI and software tools to solve practical business challenges. One case involved a freight transportation manager who developed a system that helps truck drivers identify the most efficient loads near the end of their working week. Company leaders said the approach cuts unnecessary travel, lowers costs and helps drivers spend more time at home.
AI is also being used to analyse customer feedback, assist with product development and improve self-checkout systems. Managers described efforts to create smarter tools that can recognise produce without barcodes and better understand consumer preferences.
Danker said he believes AI can make Walmart’s supply chain more proactive rather than reactive. Instead of responding after demand spikes occur, future systems could anticipate changes in shopping behaviour and position inventory accordingly.
He described a scenario where an unexpected heatwave could trigger automated preparations, ensuring relevant products are already available for rapid delivery before customers begin searching for them.
Workers remain central to Walmart’s strategy
Despite its growing investment in AI, Walmart repeatedly stressed that employees will remain at the heart of the business.
“Technology will power our future. But our associates will lead it,” Donna Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer, told employees during a rally, according to the Financial Times.
The company’s new chief executive, John Furner, echoed that sentiment. Addressing workers, he said the recurring theme across Walmart’s history has been the impact made by its people.
“The chorus, the part we come back to time and time again, is that our people make a difference that matters,” Furner said.
Walmart’s workforce has declined slightly over the past five years, even as annual revenue climbed to more than $700 billion. However, a company spokesperson told the Financial Times that Walmart expects to remain a major employer despite advances in automation and AI.
Not everyone is convinced. A shareholder proposal seeking greater transparency around AI’s impact on workers was presented at the company’s annual meeting, though it failed to gain sufficient support.
The proposal was backed by labour advocacy group United for Respect, whose representatives argued that rapidly deploying AI tools could create unrealistic performance expectations and contribute to workplace stress.
Still, many employees appeared more optimistic. Darlene Lane, a Walmart veteran with more than four decades at the company, said the retailer’s late founder Sam Walton would likely have embraced the technology.
As retailers race to incorporate AI into everything from logistics to customer service, Walmart is making a clear argument: the future may be powered by algorithms, but it will still require people to guide them.