Walmart to Launch AI Certifications Program for Associates
Walmart is expanding its investment in workforce development through a collaboration with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.
Beginning in 2026, the retailer will offer U.S. associates across functions — from stores and supply chain to corporate offices — free access to a customized OpenAI Certifications program through Walmart Academy. The program will give associates exposure to cutting-edge AI training and provide practical skills for navigating an increasingly digital world, both at work and in everyday life.
Walmart Academy is the retailer’s private, large-scale training platform that has more than 3.5 million participants to date, per the company.
Chief People Officer Donna Morris shared the news in a Sept. 4 letter to associates, framing the effort as part of Walmart’s commitment to being “people-led.”
Morris also emphasized that the initiative builds on Walmart’s broader education and upskilling efforts, including Live Better U, which offers subsidized education benefits, and ai.walmart.com, an internal platform for learning about AI applications in the workplace.
The initiative is part of Walmart’s nearly $1 billion commitment to skills training through 2026 to prepare its workforce for future retail challenges.
Walmart's Broader Tech Push
The certification rollout comes as Walmart accelerates AI adoption across its business, from customer-facing chat assistants and RFID tagging to digital twins and store-level automation. During its Q2 earnings call, CEO Doug McMillon described AI as becoming “embedded into the core of how we operate,” with new “super agents” shaping experiences for customers, associates, suppliers and developers alike.
Walmart has also spotlighted tools such as Sparky, its evolving app-based assistant, and Wally, its AI-driven merchandising insights platform, as part of a larger shift to make stores more efficient, predictive and integral to the omnichannel journey.
By pairing these operational advances with workforce training, Walmart signals that associates remain central to its tech strategy.
Why It Matters for Shopper Marketers
For brands and retail media partners, the certification program underscores Walmart’s intention to scale AI not just at the corporate and technology level, but across the associate base. A more AI-savvy workforce could translate to:
- Faster execution of in-store programs, supported by real-time digital tools.
- More consistent product availability and shelf conditions, improving campaign ROI.
- Better integration between digital activations and physical store experiences, as associates are equipped to use AI to manage operations and engage shoppers.
