Google and Walmart Join Forces to Shape the Future of Retail

“The retailer is able to shape the relationship at every step as the merchant of record,” Pichai said.

Google is in a tight race with AI platforms like OpenAI, Perplexity, Microsoft, and Anthropic, as these models replace traditional search.

While OpenAI’s ChatGPT has dominated share of AI chatbots since it introduced itself to the public, recent research from Similarweb found that ChatGPT has been steadily losing share over the last year, going from 86.7% to 64.5%, whereas Google’s Gemini has steadily gained share during that same time, going from 5.7% to 21.5%.

Google’s Gemini app now has more than 650 million monthly users, representing nearly 15% year-over-year growth, Pichai said.

The tech giant added its Shopping Graph to Gemini in November, and now provides more than 50 billion product listings that track pricing, reviews, and inventory in real time.

Google’s announcement with Walmart at NRF is just the latest example of how it has taken strides to drive both consumers and businesses to its AI search tools by supporting commerce activities.

More drone deliveries 

Walmart is also experimenting with new delivery technology like drones.

Walmart has an existing partnership with Google’s drone-delivery service Wing that allows customers in cities like Dallas, Orlando, and Atlanta to receive Walmart orders from drones. The partnership is now being expanded to 150 more locations including Miami and Los Angeles, reaching a total of 270 locations.

In Atlanta, 50% Wing customers use the service more than once, and half of the deliveries happen in 20 minutes or less, said Pichai.

“It’s complicated. There are regulations, there’s the weight of the aircraft, load, and speed,” Furner said. “What’s exciting about the announcement is that it will take us from coast to coast.”