Walmart, ChatGPT Team Up For Shopping 18
Walmart announced a new partnership with OpenAI that will let customers shop using ChatGPT. "For many years now, eCommerce shopping experiences have consisted of a search bar and a long list of item responses. That is about to change," Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a statement. NBC News reports: It was unclear Tuesday what the terms of the Walmart-AI partnership would be. The announcement also did not say when shoppers can expect to see ChatGPT integrated with their Walmart online shopping experiences, only that it's coming "soon." The OpenAI announcement is part of a broader push by Walmart, the biggest private employer in the U.S., to incorporate AI into its daily operations.
"We're excited to partner with Walmart to make everyday purchases a little simpler. It's just one way AI will help people every day under our work together," Sam Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, said in a statement. The partnership could also serve OpenAI by introducing ChatGPT to a massive set of consumers who may not be as accustomed to using AI chats in their shopping as OpenAI's core user base. "There is a native AI experience coming that is multi-media, personalized and contextual," said Walmart's McMillon.
"We're excited to partner with Walmart to make everyday purchases a little simpler. It's just one way AI will help people every day under our work together," Sam Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, said in a statement. The partnership could also serve OpenAI by introducing ChatGPT to a massive set of consumers who may not be as accustomed to using AI chats in their shopping as OpenAI's core user base. "There is a native AI experience coming that is multi-media, personalized and contextual," said Walmart's McMillon.
If you thought SEO/affiliate marketing spam is bad (Score:2)
Wait until you see what's going to be used to convince the AI to prefer certain products in chatbots-in-lieu-of-search systems.
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Money
Just buy it (Score:2)
They're going to sell it, the question is what sort of "tiers" of influence there will be, and who will get them - pushing one brand of phones over another is different than if someone wants to change what the robot says about a historical figure, say, and that's where things get very interesting.
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As if that's different from any other "Sponsored Item" search results?
I really look forward to more widespread adoption of AI search in listings. I hate spending hours having to manually dig through listings to see if the product listed *actually* meets my needs or building up spreadsheets to compare feature sets. This should be automatable. We have the tech to do so now.
Can't wait to see ... (Score:4, Funny)
Shopping and Advertising (Score:1)
This breakthrough technology, now being applied to two of humanity's greatest problems, which happen to go hand in hand: advertising and shopping!
It won't be long before we're colonizing the moons of Saturn and, soon thereafter, the planets of Alpha Centauri.
It's the highest calling (Score:2)
There is no higher calling, no greater benefit to society, than that of advertising and marketing. They are allowed to stalk us like prey and face no legal reprisal. They manipulate the masses using their corporate propaganda for the benefit of foreign shareholders, yet aren't treated like a hostile foreign country.
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I know... it's so difficult to go to Wally World (TM) and shop for what I want to buy.
If it worked ... (Score:2)
... there could actually be some use cases.
"I'm looking for a ring-less shower curtain that is actually 72 inches high, *including* the built in "rings". *Not* one that is supposed to be equivalent to a 72" "standard" curtain with rings."
That kind of thing. IF it worked ...
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Well, it can't be any worse than current product search technology, which throws in products that have literally nothing to do with your search.
I'm sure (Score:2)
I'm sure it will have the customer's interest at heart.
Seller and Shopper agents negotiating in private? (Score:2)
I dislike shopping, part of the dislike is suspicion I am not getting the best deal, and it feels like a waste of time browsing. I am more interested in utility and durability.
What if advertised prices were guide prices and the actual price was negotiated privately between agents. Purchase agent has a brief of what to look for. Sales agent has oversight of targets for the day, stock and order levels and all active prospects. A sale at 5% profit rather than 10% is worth more than no sale, or a sale to a comp
Did you think that thru? (Score:4, Insightful)
price was negotiated privately
A retailers dream, every price is an auction and push it up as high as possible. Get the most profit from every customer. No longer "customer would have paid x dollars more for an item, but because theres one price, we missed out." The rich have always had the benefit that a loaf of bread costs the same as a poor person, but not if every purchase price was negotiated! Imagine the profit potential? Someone needs something today, gouge the f out of them! Other stores ran out, price skyrockets instantly! Woohoo goes the superelite.
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... not all the way I expect, I get carried a long way on enthusiasm and caffeine. Thanks for the help 8)
I started with the thought of haggling or bargaining. I imagine it used to be more commonplace, maybe convenience or custom has changed. My wife hates it if I haggle, finds it very embarrassing. I wouldn't dream of doing it in the supermarket, even though there is no law against it, why? I don't think I am very good at haggling, I tend to go in too hard. Negotiation is a real talent. Haggling in some cu
I see you bought some milk... (Score:1)