Walmart Partners with OpenAI for AI Training Program to Boost Employee Skills and Prepare for Future of Retail

Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to develop an AI certification program for employees. The program will be available in 2026, as part of Walmart's commitment to invest nearly $1 billion in skills training. The partnership marks a major moment for the retail industry and builds on Walmart's recent AI-related updates.

Walmart has announced a significant partnership with OpenAI to develop an AI certification program for its employees. The program is set to debut in 2026, marking a major milestone in the retail industry's embrace of artificial intelligence. This initiative is part of Walmart's broader commitment to invest nearly $1 billion in skills training over the next few years [2].

The certification program will be tailored to U.S. frontline and office-based employees, providing them with the skills needed to maximize the benefits of AI-powered technology. This move aligns with Walmart's vision of the future of retail, which will be defined by the people who know how to use technology effectively [2].

Walmart's Chief People Officer Donna Morris stated that the certification course will be available in 2026, but employees currently have access to some AI-related training through the retailer’s Live Better U education benefit [2]. This partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is a significant step forward for Walmart's AI strategy, which includes the development of a unified AI framework centered around four "super agents" [2].

The AI certification program is part of Walmart's broader strategy to prepare its workforce for a future where AI is at the center of every industry. By providing employees with the skills to use AI effectively, Walmart aims to enhance its operational efficiency and give its associates the tools they need to succeed in a technology-driven environment [2].

While the financial impacts of AI adoption at Walmart have not yet yielded significant results, the company remains optimistic about the potential of AI to transform its business. Walmart's President and CEO Doug McMillon expressed excitement about the roadmap for AI and the potential for growth in the future [2].

References:
[1] https://www.cryptopolitan.com/openai-and-walmart-launch-ai-certification/
[2] https://www.retaildive.com/news/walmart-openai-chatgpt-employee-training-certification/759317/