Why Walmart Is Letting AI Shopping Agents In

The Retail Podcast · Oct 22, 2026 · 3m

Walmart has opened its platform to third-party AI shopping agents, which means retailers now sell to machines as well as people. Today's briefing also covers UK inflation rising to 3.5%, Sainsbury's pulling SmartShop from more than 800 Local stores, Primark's first store in Qatar and Ahold Delhaize's next CEO.

00:00 Intro

00:07 UK inflation rises to 3.5%, BRC wants a budget cut

00:37 Bain: Christmas growth is mostly in price tags

00:55 Sainsbury's pulls SmartShop from 800+ Locals

01:11 Primark opens its first store in Qatar

01:34 Walmart opens up to third-party AI shopping agents

01:57…