Walmart will let customers connect their own AI shopping agents
Walmart introduced Agent Gateway, an interface for product search and purchasing through approved AI agents. Starting next month, customers are expected to be able to connect their own agents and use Agent Profiles to approve individual purchases or set a spending limit.
Walmart introduced Agent Gateway, an interface that uses the MCP protocol to connect approved AI agents to product search and purchasing on behalf of customers. The company announced that customers would be able to connect their own agents and that Agent Profiles would begin rolling out next month. Support is also expected to include Sam’s Club; customers with a Walmart account will not need a Walmart+ membership.
Each agent will have a separate profile linked to the customer account. Every purchase will require approval by default, but customers will be able to allow purchases within a specified spending limit. They will see agent purchases separately from their own and will be able to disconnect an agent at any time.
According to Walmart, the interface will allow agents to select the usual brands and items without directly sharing personal data or broader shopping history with the agent. The rules prohibit agents from going beyond customer intent or changing the customer payment method, and restrict data access to what is needed for the task at hand. The company announced that it will block agents that violate the terms. Its return policies are intended to apply even when an agent does not act in line with customer intent.
Why it matters
Customers will be able to delegate both product search and ordering to an agent and determine whether each purchase should wait for their approval. For shopping agent developers, the interface offers a direct connection through MCP; according to Walmart, this will eliminate problems that can arise when interacting with the website through a browser.
What was added since the original report
Verified updates
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The default settings will require approval for every purchase made by an agent.; Users will be able to disconnect an agent.; Agents must not change the customer payment method.; Agents may access only the information needed to complete the task.; Walmart will block agents that violate the rules.
- The default settings will require approval for every purchase made by an agent.
- Users will be able to disconnect an agent.
- Agents must not change the customer payment method.
- Agents may access only the information needed to complete the task.
- Walmart will block agents that violate the rules.
Two audiences, two different impacts
What this means
For individuals
When shopping, customers will be able to track spending by individual agents separately and decide whether they can place orders independently within a budget.
For a business
Companies developing AI shopping agents are gaining an integration interface for product listings and orders. Access is intended for approved agents, and violations of the rules may lead to blocking.
DevelopmentCheck the original
Event sources
confirmed by 2 independent sources · 2 publishers, 2 independent. We count feeds from the same owner only once.