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Walmart’s top executive has warned that artificial intelligence will touch every corner of the company’s global workforce, affecting roles from entry level to senior management.
Speaking at a Harvard Business Review event, CEO Doug McMillon said the retailer is going “on the offense” with AI to ensure long-term growth.
“Every job we’ve got is going to change in some way. Whether it’s getting the shopping carts off the parking lot, or the way our technologists work, or certainly the way leadership roles change,” he said.
Walmart employs roughly 2.1 million people worldwide, including 1.6 million in the US. McMillon said the company’s goal is not to cut jobs but to help employees learn new tools and adapt to the future of work.
“What we want to do is equip everybody to be able to make the most of the new tools that are available, learn, adapt, add value, drive growth - and still be a really large employer years from now,” he said.
The company recently announced a partnership with OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, allowing customers to browse and make purchases through conversational AI. McMillon said the same technology will help employees perform their roles more efficiently.
AI training and leadership overhaul
The retail giant is rolling out AI-focused training through its Walmart Academies program, designed to help store staff, technologists, and managers develop new digital skills. Employees are being encouraged to experiment with ChatGPT and other platforms to understand how AI can improve decision-making and productivity.
“Walmart needs to be the best in the world at application,” McMillon said, emphasizing the company’s goal of integrating technology into its culture.
To oversee the transformation, Walmart has appointed Daniel Denker to a newly created leadership role dedicated to AI. McMillon said the shift will lead to new positions, including certified technicians who will maintain and supervise automated systems.
“AI is expected to create a number of jobs at Walmart, which will offset those that it replaces,” he said, without providing specific figures.
AI reshaping corporate America
The retailer's strategy mirrors a wider shift among major corporations betting heavily on artificial intelligence. Google, Amazon, and other large employers are investing billions in data centers and automation technologies.
In recent months, several high-profile layoffs have accompanied these investments. Amazon said it would cut 14,000 corporate roles, while Target eliminated 1,800 positions in its biggest restructuring in a decade.
Surveys suggest the changes are fueling public anxiety about automation’s impact on the job market. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in August found 71% of Americans worried that AI would permanently eliminate too many jobs. A CBS News/YouGov survey the following month reported 46% expect job losses over the next decade, compared to just 23% who believe AI will expand employment.
Despite those fears, McMillon framed Walmart’s approach as one of opportunity rather than replacement. “Every job we’ve got is going to change,” he said. “We’re going to help our people grow with it.”
