Google is pushing Gemini AI shopping beyond product discovery by adding in-chat purchasing with major retail partners like Walmart, Shopify and Wayfair. The update was announced on January 11, 2026 at the National Retail Federation convention in New York.
Shoppers can ask Gemini what to buy, and Gemini pulls product suggestions directly from participating retailers’ inventory. Google says an instant checkout option will let customers finish purchases without leaving the conversation, supported by multiple payment providers.
Paul Young’s LinkedIn post echoed the same theme, sharing the CNBC headline about Walmart and Gemini making product discovery and buying easier.
What Changes For Walmart Shoppers:
- Link Walmart and Google accounts to get recommendations based on past purchases
- Combine items bought via Gemini with existing Walmart or Sam’s Club carts
- Get fast delivery, including under three hours and as quick as 30 minutes for eligible local items
Walmart and Google frame the shift as “agent-led commerce,” powered by the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard designed to connect discovery, checkout and support across platforms.
The launch starts in the US, with international expansion planned. It also lands as rivals test similar flows, including an earlier Walmart instant-checkout effort tied to ChatGPT, while Salesforce estimates AI influenced $272 billion, about 20%, of global holiday retail sales.
