Walmart to Open Site to AI Agents Next Month via MCP, Diverging from Amazon
Walmart plans to allow users to connect AI agents for shopping next month using the Model Context Protocol, requiring approval and spending limits, contrasting with Amazon's recent blocks.
US retail giant Walmart announced that it will allow users to connect their own AI agents to its website starting next month. This move enables automated shopping within strict safety boundaries while keeping final control in the hands of consumers.
According to reports, Walmart has built an "Agent Gateway" based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that allows AI agents to plug into web services structurally. This approach avoids the technical hiccups agents often face when navigating traditional browsers. The gateway ensures agents only access information necessary to complete tasks, preventing them from viewing broader shopping histories or personal data. For instance, if a customer frequently buys sourdough bread, the system helps the agent find those items without sharing the customer's full purchase history.
To ensure security, each AI agent gets its own profile within the user's Walmart account. By default, all purchases made by agents require explicit user approval, though customers can set budgets (e.g., up to $100) for autonomous execution. Users can also review agent transactions separately and disable the agent at any time. Walmart stated that agents must not change payment methods or take actions beyond the shopper's intent, and non-compliant agents will be blocked.
This strategy stands in stark contrast to Amazon, which recently blocked shopping agents from Perplexity and Meta's Muse AI assistant. By embracing AI agents under controlled terms, Walmart aims to capture the emerging "agentic commerce" market. The feature will also extend to its Sam's Club warehouse stores.