Google is trying something new with its Gemini AI chatbot. The company is working with Walmart, Shopify, Wayfair, and a few other big retailers to let people find and buy stuff without leaving the chat. It is kind of like having a shopping assistant inside your phone, though for now it is mostly U.S. users.
Instant Checkout
Here is how it works. You ask Gemini a question, say you need ski gear, and it pulls suggestions from participating stores. If you like something, you can pay right there. Walmart says that if your Google and Walmart accounts are linked, it can even look at your past purchases to make recommendations. Basically, it tries to act like a personal shopper.
OpenAI has a similar thing with Walmart in ChatGPT, and Amazon is doing something similar too. All these companies are racing to make it easy to go from browsing to buying in one step. The big idea is that people spend less time searching and more time completing purchases.
Market Impact
Salesforce says AI influenced $272 billion in global retail sales over the last holiday season. Google says payments will start with cards linked to Google accounts, and PayPal will come soon. Right now it is U.S. only, but international expansion is planned.
Industry Voices
People in the industry are cautiously optimistic. Shopify’s CEO said it is nice to have AI act like a personal shopper, but customers should stay in control. PayPal’s VP added that this kind of AI commerce will grow slowly and unevenly, and retailers should not just wait and see. Walmart’s CEO described it as closing the gap between “I want it and I have it.”
Extras
Walmart also plans to expand drone delivery with Wing to 270 locations by 2027. Combining AI recommendations with fast delivery could make shopping feel even more seamless.
Bottom Line
For investors, the opportunity is clear. If consumers adopt AI shopping, it could improve conversion rates and reduce friction. The questions are how quickly people will use it and whether retailers can pull it off smoothly. At least for now, it is an experiment with huge potential if it works.
