[US] Walmart gives corporate employees generative AI as other retailers restrict it

In the US, Walmart is expanding AI efforts in its workplace with a new AI "assistant." It's one of many generative AI tools the company has already employed across its 50,000 corporate employees, Insider reports.

Retail and tech big names including Amazon, Apple, and Samsung have restricted employees from using AI tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. Walmart, however, appears to be embracing it. 

The generative AI tool reportedly includes a "My Assistant" feature. It will be used to summarise documents and speed up creating and drafting projects, Walmart's Chief People Officer Donna Morris and Executive Vice President of New Business and Emerging Technologies Cheryl Ainoa wrote in a blog post. 

When asked for comment, a Walmart spokesperson reportedly referred Insider to that post.

The goal of the app is to release employees "from monotonous, repetitive tasks, allowing more time and focus for improving the customer/member experience," according to the blog post. In addition, it noted Walmart’s hope to implement the AI tool in employee orientations and to assist employees with selecting their annual benefits packages.

Walmart's provision of generative AI tools to its office workers is just one of the ways the retailer is integrating AI across the company. Walmart has added "Conversational AI" to chatbots and shopping features in its customer service branch. These include Walmart’s Voice Order and Text to Shop services, which recommend products based on past customer orders. 

Walmart employees in-store can use an "Ask Sam" voice assistant to help them locate items while the retailer's self-checkout machines are equipped with AI-powered cameras to help detect and prevent theft. The company's use cases for AI  are likely to increase. Walmart is hiring a senior manager for its conversational AI team who could earn between $168,000 and $252,000 a year. 

Doug McMillon - Walmart's CEO - recently told shareholders that Walmart would focus on enhancing its use of generative AI to better understand its customers and improve its supply chain. Mr McMillon has reportedly been moving the retailer in a tech-savvy direction beyond generative AI, including setting up drone delivery services in some stores. 

While some major US companies remain undecided about whether to embrace generative AI, others are cautiously introducing AI into their businesses. Accenture and Goldman Sachs, for example, are building out and testing their own AI tools in the hopes that the technology can streamline workflows and boost productivity. Tech companies such as Meta, Netflix, and the dating app Hinge are willing to pay six-figure salaries to attract generative AI talent. 

The Chief People Officer and EVP of Walmart did address the limitations of generative AI in the blog post, however, they reportedly believe the benefits will outweigh them. 

"​​Here's our belief: It will take both people and technology to deliver on our purpose to help people save money and live better," the blog post read.

Source: Insider

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

In the US, Walmart is expanding AI efforts in its workplace with a new AI "assistant." It's one of many generative AI tools the company has already employed across its 50,000 corporate employees, Insider reports.

Retail and tech big names including Amazon, Apple, and Samsung have restricted employees from using AI tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. Walmart, however, appears to be embracing it. 

The generative AI tool reportedly includes a "My Assistant" feature. It will be used to summarise documents and speed up creating and drafting projects, Walmart's Chief People Officer Donna Morris and Executive Vice President of New Business and Emerging Technologies Cheryl Ainoa wrote in a blog post. 

When asked for comment, a Walmart spokesperson reportedly referred Insider to that post.

The goal of the app is to release employees "from monotonous, repetitive tasks, allowing more time and focus for improving the customer/member experience," according to the blog post. In addition, it noted Walmart’s hope to implement the AI tool in employee orientations and to assist employees with selecting their annual benefits packages.

Walmart's provision of generative AI tools to its office workers is just one of the ways the retailer is integrating AI across the company. Walmart has added "Conversational AI" to chatbots and shopping features in its customer service branch. These include Walmart’s Voice Order and Text to Shop services, which recommend products based on past customer orders. 

Walmart employees in-store can use an "Ask Sam" voice assistant to help them locate items while the retailer's self-checkout machines are equipped with AI-powered cameras to help detect and prevent theft. The company's use cases for AI  are likely to increase. Walmart is hiring a senior manager for its conversational AI team who could earn between $168,000 and $252,000 a year. 

Doug McMillon - Walmart's CEO - recently told shareholders that Walmart would focus on enhancing its use of generative AI to better understand its customers and improve its supply chain. Mr McMillon has reportedly been moving the retailer in a tech-savvy direction beyond generative AI, including setting up drone delivery services in some stores. 

While some major US companies remain undecided about whether to embrace generative AI, others are cautiously introducing AI into their businesses. Accenture and Goldman Sachs, for example, are building out and testing their own AI tools in the hopes that the technology can streamline workflows and boost productivity. Tech companies such as Meta, Netflix, and the dating app Hinge are willing to pay six-figure salaries to attract generative AI talent. 

The Chief People Officer and EVP of Walmart did address the limitations of generative AI in the blog post, however, they reportedly believe the benefits will outweigh them. 

"​​Here's our belief: It will take both people and technology to deliver on our purpose to help people save money and live better," the blog post read.

Source: Insider

(Links and quotes via original reporting)