At Walmart, the spirit of “Our people make the difference” still serves as a guiding principle. The retail giant is embarking on a journey into generative AI, positioning itself as a “people-led, tech-powered” organization. Central to this vision is their new generative AI tool, My Assistant, aimed at boosting the productivity of 50,000 US-based corporate employees. Walmart joins a select group of companies employing generative AI at scale.
Ben Peterson, head of Walmart’s People Product organization, plays a pivotal role. He envisions a reimagined associate experience achieved through intuitive digital solutions. Walmart has always been tech-savvy, aspiring to be a leader in generative AI.
To navigate the hype, Walmart’s leaders visited a research institution, clarifying that generative AI should augment, not replace, knowledge workers. A clear vision, anchoring their generative AI strategy, was vital.
Walmart’s structured approach involves a dedicated cross-functional product team and high-level executive alignment. Change management and training are key to adoption, emphasizing generative AI’s role as a productivity enhancer.
Today, My Assistant empowers US corporate employees, and Walmart plans to extend it internationally. They believe generative AI will augment jobs, ultimately highlighting the importance of their people as the differentiating factor.
