Walmart CEO Doug McMillon: AI Will Soon Transform Every Role

The continued development of artificial intelligence is moulding the way industries operate, from technology to retail. The conversation is now moving beyond operational efficiency and consumer habits to the fundamental structure of the workforce itself.

For leadership teams, the challenge is clear: prepare employees for a future of machine-assisted commerce or risk being left behind.

Doug McMillon, CEO of the multinational retail firm Walmart, has issued a direct warning that AI will reshape every single role across its 2.1 million global workforce.

Speaking at the Harvard Business Review’s Future of Business 2025 event, Doug provided a frank assessment of the changes ahead.

“Every job we’ve got is going to change in some way – whether it’s getting the shopping carts off the parking lot or the way our technologists work or certainly the way leadership roles change," he explained.

Preparing the workforce for an AI future

During the leadership conversation titled ‘Leading with Purpose in Uncertain Times’, Doug emphasises that Walmart is actively preparing its employees for this change. The focus is on empowerment rather than replacement.

Two weeks prior to the event, Walmart announced a major collaboration with OpenAI, a move that signals its strategic direction.

Walmart is training employees to use AI tools, aiming to equip them for new responsibilities.

“What we want to do is equip everybody to be able to make the most of new tools that are available, learn, adapt, add value, foster growth and still be a really large employer years from now," Doug said.

To achieve this, Walmart is leveraging its Walmart Academies in-house training centres that offer programmes from introductory skills to advanced leadership.

These academies utilise both physical classrooms and virtual reality technology to deliver training, ensuring associates have the skills needed to adapt.

The strategic partnership with OpenAI

On 14 October, Walmart announced its partnership with OpenAI to create 'AI-first shopping experiences'. This collaboration allows customers to shop at Walmart directly through ChatGPT using an Instant Checkout feature.

The move represents a departure from traditional e-commerce search bars towards more interactive and personalised customer engagement, where shoppers can plan meals, restock items and find new products through a conversational interface.

According to Walmart, this partnership aims to enhance the product catalogue and shorten fashion production timelines by up to 18 weeks. It could also cut customer care resolution times by up to 40%.

In a statement, Walmart clarified its position on AI’s role: “The future of retail isn’t about replacing human connection with machines, it’s about using AI to remove friction and make everyday moments easier, smarter and more delightful”.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, adds: “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”.

AI's role beyond the retail sector

The sentiment that AI will augment rather than replace the human workforce is shared by leaders in the technology sector.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, commented in October that he envisions his company as a fusion of human and digital employees working alongside one another. He suggested the market for AI employees could become a “couple-of-trillion-dollar market opportunity, probably”, with roles like “AI digital nurses, AI accountants, AI lawyers”.

This perspective reframes the conversation around AI from a threat to an opportunity for organisational redesign.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you license some and you hire some depending on the quality and depending on the deep expertise," Jensen said.

“I tell my CIO our company’s IT department they’re going to be the HR department of agentic AI in the future.”

As executives navigate this new terrain, the focus is on proactive adaptation and strategic application.

Doug said Walmart is working to “be the best in the world at application” of AI, a goal that highlights the importance of integrating new technologies thoughtfully to foster growth and support employees.