GoKawiilWalmart to let third-party AI agents shop on its site starting next month
Walmart announced it will allow external AI agents to make purchases on its platform beginning next month, giving each agent its own 'Agent Profile' tied to a customer's account. Shoppers can set spending limits, require approval for purchases, or let agents buy autonomously within a budget, and can review or disable agent activity at any time. The company built an 'Agent Gateway' using the Model Context Protocol so agents can transact without accessing full shopping history or personal data, and says agents violating its rules—such as changing payment methods—will be blocked.
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The move contrasts with Amazon, which has blocked shopping agents like Perplexity's and Meta's Muse, suggesting Walmart sees competitive advantage in embracing AI-driven commerce rather than resisting it. By controlling access through its own gateway and rules, Walmart may be positioning itself to shape how automated purchasing develops rather than cede that space to outside platforms. This could also set an early precedent for how retailers balance convenience and security as AI agents increasingly handle consumer spending.
- Walmart will open its platform to third-party AI shopping agents starting next month.
- Customers get dedicated 'Agent Profiles' with spending limits, approval controls, and the ability to disable agents.
- The approach differs sharply from Amazon's, which has blocked AI shopping agents from competitors.
Source: theverge.com — Emma Roth, 2026-10-21
Published there as: “Walmart is inviting AI agents to shop for you”
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