Consumer AI agents such as Meta's Muse, ChatGPT's Dots and others promise to complete tasks like booking flights or buying groceries, but users report these agents are frequently blocked mid-task. Amazon has begun intentionally blocking Muse from browsing or purchasing on its retail site, while Walmart says similar complaints from its customers stem from unintentional anti-bot measures rather than a deliberate block, despite being a Muse launch partner.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-06
Walmart and Alphabet's Wing announced plans to bring drone delivery to the Denver and Seattle metro areas starting in 2027, part of a broader rollout covering more than 270 Walmart stores nationwide. The service currently operates in five metro areas including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Orlando, with 14 more markets such as Miami, Los Angeles and the Bay Area planned. The drones fly up to 60 mph carrying payloads up to five pounds, with orders placed through Walmart's app or Wing's own app.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-05
Gias Foods has broadened a recall that began last month to include additional lots of its authentic Italian lemon Alfredo fettuccine, sold under Walmart's Bettergoods private label. The expansion was prompted by concerns over possible Listeria contamination, and customers are being told not to eat the affected pasta.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-02
Walmart has publicly denied that its digital shelf labels and newly patented dynamic AI pricing technology will charge customers differently based on personal data, with CEO John Furner stating income, shopping history or urgency won't affect prices. McDonald's has separately faced media scrutiny over AI systems tied to price variation across locations, calling the coverage 'speculative and misinformed.' Both companies' practices are drawing attention amid broader debate over surveillance pricing involving lawmakers and the FTC.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-01
Walmart is expanding three app-linked features — Shop to Light, Pick to Light and Stock to Light — that flash a store's digital shelf labels to help customers locate products and help associates fill online orders and restock shelves. Executive Greg Cathey said the tools, which follow a pilot program, will be live in all stores by the holiday season.
cnbc.com
· 2026-10-01
In an interview, Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner said weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are not damaging the company's candy business, and in some cases benefit it. He also described how Hershey now uses artificial intelligence to direct its sales force in real time at retailers like Target and Walmart, as part of efforts to keep the brand culturally relevant.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-01
CNET's latest holiday shopping survey found that 43% of US adults are frustrated by fake or misleading discounts, while 35% worry retailers inflate baseline prices before sales. CNET deals editor James Bricknell explained that retailers often inflate a product's listed recommended retail price rather than the sale price itself, making a modest 5-10% discount appear far larger.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-30
Walmart is selling the Acer Nitro ED0 EDT340CUR, a 34-inch ultrawide curved gaming monitor, for $189, a 24% price cut. The 21:9 monitor offers a 3440 x 1440 QHD resolution, 1500R curvature, 120Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and includes a DisplayPort plus two HDMI 2.1 ports for connecting multiple devices.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-30
A group of neighbors discovered their homes fell within range of Wing's drone-delivery partnership with Walmart, which can drop items from a catalog of over 2,000 products onto a lawn within about 25 minutes. Rather than order household goods, several neighbors began sending each other single potatoes and bottles of water via the delivery drones, which carry up to 2.7 pounds and fly a roughly six-mile radius.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-30
CNET's annual holiday shopping survey found that 73% of holiday shoppers intend to buy tech products or services this season, budgeting an average of $808 — $123 less than last year. The survey also found 32% of respondents plan to start shopping before November, 27% plan to wait for sales, and 84% expect frustrations such as misleading discounts, quick sellouts and inflated baseline prices.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-29
Walmart CEO John Furner stated in a website post that the company does not and will not set prices based on customer income, shopping history, willingness to pay, or time of day. The statement comes as Walmart expands digital shelf labels, which already operate in 2,300 U.S. stores and are expected to reach all locations within a year.
news.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-28
Walmart CEO John Furner published a letter to customers stating the company will not adjust prices based on shoppers' income, shopping history, urgency, or time of day. He also said conversations with Walmart's Sparky AI assistant will not be used to alter prices. The statement follows Walmart's earlier announcement that digital shelf labels will be installed in all US stores by year's end.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-28
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