Walmart launched a ChatGPT shopping app that allows users to search products, compare options, and add items to their cart without leaving the chat interface — all powered by its internal Sparky chatbot. Results within ChatGPT differ slightly from Walmart.com, with a stronger emphasis on discovery and alternative suggestions based on the conversation rather than static search results.
GeekSeller notes that the experience surfaces not just Walmart Fulfillment Services listings or Shipped by Walmart listings, but also seller-fulfilled items without free shipping, suggesting that Walmart is exposing a much wider portion of its catalog than it originally did through OpenAI's recently abandoned Instant Checkout.
Two weeks ago I reported that OpenAI was scaling back its plans to introduce shopping directly inside the general ChatGPT chatbot, pivoting instead to a focus on having checkouts take place inside of specific apps within its interface. Now Walmart has made the pivot along with them and launched its own app.
Instant Checkout was one of the biggest flops in modern e-commerce history.
Walmart reported that conversion rates for products purchased directly inside ChatGPT via its Instant Checkout feature were three times lower than those requiring users to click out to Walmart's website. Daniel Danker, who oversees design and product for Walmart, says the companies could have spent years trying to fix the “unsatisfying” consumer experience of Instant Checkout.
Damn! This coming from the same company that called its partnership with OpenAI the “next generation of retail” just five months ago. Walmart, you know you guys signed off on it too, right?
In the new experience, Walmart users will have to log into Sparky the first time they encounter the app through ChatGPT. From there, the shopper's carts will sync between ChatGPT, Walmart.com, and the Walmart mobile app to create a cross-platform shopping experience that leverages ChatGPT for discovery and Walmart's own platform for checkout.
Despite how few people wanted to actually complete their purchase on ChatGPT, Walmart says that the chatbot is great for discovery, bringing in about twice the rate of new customers as search engines.