Step into the future of party planning and decorating with Walmart’s groundbreaking experiments in generative AI tools. This cutting-edge technology, which was initially launched for corporate employees, is now being extended to customers to enhance their shopping experience. With the upcoming launch of a shopping assistant, generative AI-powered search, and an interior design feature, Walmart is revolutionizing the way we plan parties and decorate our homes. The shopping assistant will provide personalized recommendations and answer specific questions, while the search tool will generate a collection of items relevant to one query. Additionally, the interior design assistant utilizes AR technology to help customers decorate their rooms with ease. As more companies embrace generative AI tools, Walmart continues to prioritize this technology, aiming to deliver innovative solutions that cater to the needs of their customers. Get ready to experience the thrill of party planning and decorating like never before!
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Walmart experiments with generative AI tools
Introduction
Walmart, the retail giant, is exploring the world of generative AI tools. After launching a generative AI tool for its corporate employees in August, the company is now expanding the technology to its customers. With the goal of assisting shoppers throughout their entire shopping journey, from search to purchase, Walmart is venturing into various features that aim to enhance the overall shopping experience. These features include a shopping assistant, generative AI-powered search, and an interior design feature. By experimenting with generative AI, Walmart aims to provide more interactive and personalized experiences for its customers.
Walmart’s generative AI tool for corporate employees
Before extending the use of generative AI to its customers, Walmart initially introduced the technology to its corporate employees. The company’s AI tool, called “My Assistant,” was launched in August and aimed to streamline tasks and improve efficiency. Corporate employees utilized the tool for activities such as summarizing documents, preparing for meetings, and expediting projects. Feedback on the AI app has been overwhelmingly positive, with some employees even utilizing it for more lighthearted tasks like creating funny out-of-office messages. Overall, Walmart’s generative AI tool for corporate employees has proven to be a valuable asset in enhancing productivity within the company.
Expanding the technology to customers
Building upon the success of its generative AI tool for employees, Walmart is now focusing on making the technology available to its customers. The goal is to provide shoppers with interactive and personalized experiences throughout their shopping journey. By harnessing the power of generative AI, Walmart aims to assist customers in finding the products they need while saving them time and effort. With the introduction of features like a shopping assistant and generative AI-powered search, Walmart aims to revolutionize the way customers shop with the help of advanced AI technology.
Features coming down the pipeline
Walmart has several exciting features in development that utilize generative AI technology. These features are designed to enhance the shopping experience for customers and offer them unique and personalized services. The three main features currently in the pipeline include a shopping assistant, a generative AI-powered search, and an interior design assistant. By utilizing generative AI, Walmart hopes to bring innovation and convenience to its customers.
Shopping Assistant
Interactive and conversational experience
Walmart’s upcoming shopping assistant is intended to provide customers with a more interactive and conversational experience. This AI-powered assistant can effectively answer specific questions posed by customers, offer personalized product suggestions, and provide detailed information about a particular product. For example, if a customer is looking for Halloween costume ideas for a horror-themed party, the shopping assistant can offer creative suggestions tailored to the customer’s preferences. By engaging in a conversation with the assistant, customers can receive more personalized recommendations and information about the products they are interested in.
Answering specific questions
One of the key functionalities of Walmart’s shopping assistant is its ability to answer specific questions from customers. Instead of scrolling through multiple search results, customers can simply input their questions directly into the search bar. With the help of generative AI, the assistant can understand the context of the query and generate a collection of relevant items. For instance, if a customer wants to plan a unicorn-themed birthday party, the AI will display a wide range of related products such as balloons, paper napkins, and streamers. This feature aims to save customers time and provide them with a streamlined shopping experience.
Providing personalized product suggestions
With the power of generative AI, Walmart’s shopping assistant can offer personalized product suggestions to customers. By analyzing the customer’s preferences and browsing history, the assistant can recommend products that are tailored to their needs and interests. Whether it’s suggesting the latest cell phone for a parent looking to buy one for their child or offering recommendations for high-protein foods based on dietary preferences, the shopping assistant aims to provide customers with a personalized and enjoyable shopping experience.
Sharing detailed information about a certain product
Another feature of Walmart’s shopping assistant is its ability to share detailed information about specific products. By utilizing generative AI, the assistant can provide customers with in-depth information like product specifications, customer reviews, and relevant details about an item. This helps customers make more informed decisions and increases their confidence in their purchase. Whether a customer is considering a new gadget or a household appliance, the shopping assistant aims to provide all the necessary information to facilitate a well-informed purchase decision.
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Generative AI-powered Search
Understanding context
Walmart’s generative AI-powered search is designed to understand the context of a customer’s query. By utilizing advanced AI algorithms, the search tool can analyze the customer’s input and generate a collection of relevant items. This feature aims to enhance the search experience, allowing customers to find what they need more efficiently. Whether a customer is searching for a specific product or seeking inspiration for a particular theme or occasion, the generative AI-powered search can provide a comprehensive and tailored selection of products.
Generating a collection of relevant items
The generative AI-powered search tool by Walmart aims to save customers time and effort by generating a collection of relevant items. Instead of having to perform multiple separate searches, customers can input their query, and the search tool will generate a list of products that match their needs. For example, if a customer is planning a beach vacation, the search tool can provide a curated selection of beachwear, accessories, and other related products. This functionality eliminates the need for customers to sift through numerous search results, streamlining the shopping process and making it more convenient.
Saving customers time
One of the primary goals of Walmart’s generative AI-powered search tool is to save customers time. By understanding the context of a customer’s search query and generating a collection of relevant items, the search tool eliminates the need for customers to spend excessive time browsing through different search results. Instead, customers can quickly find what they need and make an informed decision. This feature is designed to enhance the overall shopping experience by increasing efficiency and convenience.
Similar developments by other companies
Instacart’s ChatGPT-powered search tool
Instacart, a leading online grocery delivery platform, has recently rolled out a ChatGPT-powered search tool. This tool enhances the search experience for customers by generating suggestions based on their queries. Much like Walmart’s generative AI-powered search, Instacart’s tool aims to save customers time and provide them with a curated selection of products. Whether customers are looking for high-protein foods or Thanksgiving dinner ideas, the ChatGPT-powered search tool by Instacart offers a convenient and personalized search experience.
Meta’s Bing-backed AI Assistant
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has also ventured into the field of generative AI tools with its Bing-backed AI Assistant. This AI assistant is designed to provide users with a range of useful functionalities, including personalized recommendations, answers to queries, and assistance with various tasks. By harnessing the power of generative AI and combining it with the vast knowledge base of Bing, Meta’s AI assistant aims to provide users with a comprehensive and interactive experience.
Meta’s AI personality chatbot
In addition to its Bing-backed AI Assistant, Meta has also developed an AI personality chatbot. This chatbot is designed to engage in conversations with users and provide them with a unique and personalized experience. By utilizing generative AI techniques, the chatbot can adapt its responses based on the user’s inputs and preferences, creating an interactive and engaging conversation. Meta’s AI personality chatbot showcases the potential for generative AI to revolutionize the way users interact with AI-powered systems.
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Interior Design Assistant
Combining generative AI with AR technology
Walmart’s interior design assistant is an innovative feature that combines generative AI with augmented reality (AR) technology. This combination allows users to upload a photo of a room and have the AI analyze it to understand the existing items within the space. By leveraging generative AI and AR, the assistant can then provide users with redecoration advice and suggestions.
Uploading a photo of a room
To utilize Walmart’s interior design assistant, users need to upload a photo of the room they want to redecorate. The AI analyzes the image to understand the existing items and the overall layout of the room. This information serves as the basis for the assistant to provide redecoration recommendations.
Taking image capture of existing items
Once the AI understands the existing items within the room, it takes an image capture of each item. This image capture facilitates the assistant in providing accurate and detailed suggestions for redecoration.
Providing redecoration advice
The interior design assistant engages in a conversation with the user to understand their preferences and requirements for redecoration. Based on this information, the assistant provides expert advice and suggestions to transform the room according to the user’s desired aesthetic.
Placing suggested items in the room
After providing recommendations for redecoration, the assistant can digitally place the suggested items within the room. Using AR technology, the assistant creates a virtual representation of the room with the suggested items, allowing users to visualize how the final result would look.
Considering the user’s budget
Walmart’s interior design assistant takes into account the user’s budget when providing redecoration suggestions. By considering the user’s financial constraints, the assistant ensures that the recommended items are affordable and within the user’s means.
Allowing user input on preferences
To further personalize the redecoration process, Walmart’s interior design assistant allows users to provide their input and preferences. Users can express their opinions on the suggested items, select the ones they like, and even provide additional recommendations. This interactive approach ensures that the redecoration process aligns with the user’s vision and preferences.
Continued investment in generative AI tools
Importance to Walmart
Generative AI tools hold significant importance for Walmart as the company recognizes the potential to revolutionize the shopping experience and enhance customer satisfaction. By investing in generative AI technology, Walmart aims to provide its customers with innovative and personalized services, setting itself apart in the retail industry. This continued investment in generative AI tools showcases Walmart’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to meet the evolving needs of its customers.
Integration into products and services
Walmart plans to integrate generative AI tools into various products and services to ensure widespread access and utilization. By incorporating generative AI into its offerings, Walmart seeks to create a seamless and convenient shopping experience for its customers. Whether it’s through features like the shopping assistant, generative AI-powered search, or interior design assistant, Walmart is committed to exploring the full potential of generative AI and incorporating it into its diverse range of products and services.
Rollout of AI app for corporate employees
Walmart’s AI app, ‘My Assistant’
Walmart’s AI app for corporate employees, known as “My Assistant,” has proven to be a valuable tool in streamlining tasks and improving efficiency within the company. The app was rolled out to 50,000 corporate employees in the U.S. and offers a wide range of functionalities to assist employees in their daily tasks.
Streamlining tasks for employees
The main aim of Walmart’s AI app is to streamline tasks for employees, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively. The app assists employees in activities such as summarizing documents, preparing for meetings, and expediting projects. By automating these tasks, employees can focus on more strategic and value-added activities, enhancing productivity within the organization.
Positive feedback and unexpected usage
Walmart has received positive feedback regarding its AI app, with employees highlighting the app’s usefulness and convenience. However, the company also discovered some unexpected usage of the app, especially in terms of creating funny out-of-office messages. This unexpected usage showcases the app’s versatility and the creativity of employees in utilizing AI technology for various purposes. The positive feedback and unexpected usage demonstrate the value and impact of Walmart’s AI app on its employees and the overall work environment.
