■ In this week's AI Lab:What a recent Walmart project tells us about the future of AI agents and online shopping. Plus, Grok’s many personalities on X and a partisan split in AI fact-checking.
It’s Paresh Dave, I’m filling in for Will Knight this week. Since November, Walmart has let some ChatGPT users order a limited selection of products without ever leaving OpenAI’s chatbot interface. Sales have been disappointing, a Walmart executive vice president exclusively tells WIRED.
The results suggest that a future where chatbots and AI agents take over ecommerce is still a way off, if it ever materializes. Last year, OpenAI made a bet that it could boost revenue by charging a commission on purchases made through ChatGPT. It partnered with Walmart, Etsy, and other shops on an “agentic commerce” feature called Instant Checkout.
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