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Walmart’s AI Shopping Shockwave: Stock Spikes 2% as ChatGPT Checkout Debuts and Tariff Storm Looms
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Walmart’s AI Shopping Shockwave: Stock Spikes 2% as ChatGPT Checkout Debuts and Tariff Storm Looms

by
14 October 2025
  • AI-Powered Shopping: Walmart announced an OpenAI partnership on Oct. 14, allowing customers to “plan a weeknight taco dinner” or “reorder staples” via ChatGPT and complete purchases using a new “Instant Checkout” feature [1] [2]. This move replaces clunky search bars with a conversational, AI-driven buying experience.
  • Expert Vision: CEO Doug McMillon said this marks a shift to a “multimedia, personalized and contextual” e-commerce future [3] [4]. Axios notes it signals the rise of “agentic commerce,” where AI anticipates shopper needs [5]. OpenAI’s Sam Altman likewise praised the deal as “one way AI will help people every day” by simplifying routine purchases [6].
  • Stock Reaction: Investors cheered the news. Walmart’s shares jumped about +2% on Oct. 14 [7], wiping out recent losses. As of mid-Oct. 2025, WMT trades around $102–103 (it closed at $102.04 on Oct. 13 [8]). Wall Street is broadly upbeat: analysts rate Walmart a Moderate/Strong Buy, with average 12-month targets near $112–115 (roughly 10–13% above current levels) [9] [10].
  • Tariff Headwinds: At the same time, new U.S. tariffs threaten costs. TipRanks notes that starting Nov. 1 the U.S. may impose 100% tariffs on many Chinese imports, catching Walmart “in the firing line” due to its heavy China sourcing [11] [12]. Trump has already urged retailers to “eat the tariffs,” and McMillon admits inflationary pressure is coming. He told analysts the impact so far has been “gradual” but cautioned that customers will feel price pressure as tariffs bite [13] [14]. Walmart’s CFO similarly warned costs are rising “each week” as new tariffs hit inventories [15].
  • Analyst Forecast: Despite trade worries, the consensus outlook is solid. TipRanks reports a “Strong Buy” consensus for WMT (29 buys, 0 sells) [16]. MarketBeat shows 30 out of 31 analysts rating it buy or better, with a consensus target ~$112.4 (up ~10%) [17]. TD Cowen recently named Walmart one of its favorite retailers in the AI era, praising the company’s “C-suite level commitment” to AI and coining the phrase “Chat the New Checkout” to describe this trend [18] [19].
  • Broader AI Push: This partnership builds on Walmart’s earlier AI initiatives. Sam’s Club is already using AI tools on the store floor and will roll out OpenAI-powered training programs for employees [20] [21]. In September, Walmart tapped OpenAI to develop AI literacy courses for 2026 [22]. The move joins a wave of retail AI innovations: Amazon has rolled out a visual AI search (“Lens Live”) and Shopify now lets shoppers check out via ChatGPT as well [23].

In short, Walmart’s move to integrate ChatGPT is being viewed as a game-changer for retail. CEO McMillon envisions a future where customers “simply chat and buy” and Walmart handles the rest [24]. That vision has excited investors – WMT’s stock is performing well and analysts see upside [25] [26] – even as rising trade tariffs threaten margins. How things play out will depend on adoption of the new AI shopping tools and whether Walmart can contain costs. For now, experts say the stock’s fundamentals look solid: Walmart recently raised guidance and posted healthy sales gains (Q2 sales +4.8% YoY, e-commerce +26%) [27], and analysts expect those trends to continue under this AI-driven strategy.

Sources: Official Walmart press release [28]; Axios and NBC reporting [29] [30]; investing.com and TipRanks analysis [31] [32]; Retail Dive and TechSpace2 (ts2.tech) AI news [33] [34]. These sources provide the latest quotes, data and expert commentary on Walmart’s ChatGPT partnership, tariff impacts, stock ratings and forecasts [35] [36].

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References

1. www.axios.com, 2. za.investing.com, 3. corporate.walmart.com, 4. investorshub.advfn.com, 5. www.axios.com, 6. za.investing.com, 7. za.investing.com, 8. www.marketbeat.com, 9. www.tipranks.com, 10. www.marketbeat.com, 11. www.tipranks.com, 12. www.tipranks.com, 13. www.tipranks.com, 14. www.retaildive.com, 15. www.retaildive.com, 16. www.tipranks.com, 17. www.marketbeat.com, 18. www.investing.com, 19. www.investing.com, 20. ts2.tech, 21. ts2.tech, 22. www.retaildive.com, 23. ts2.tech, 24. corporate.walmart.com, 25. www.tipranks.com, 26. www.marketbeat.com, 27. www.tipranks.com, 28. corporate.walmart.com, 29. www.axios.com, 30. www.axios.com, 31. za.investing.com, 32. www.tipranks.com, 33. www.retaildive.com, 34. ts2.tech, 35. www.tipranks.com, 36. www.marketbeat.com

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Mateusz Kaczmarek Latest posts

A technology and finance expert writing for TS2.tech. He analyzes developments in satellites, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on their impact on global markets. Author of industry reports and market commentary, often cited in tech and business media. Passionate about innovation and the digital economy.

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