A generative-AI shopping assistant launched by Walmart in 2025

In 2025, Walmart introduced a friendly new helper called Sparky — an AI shopping assistant built into the Walmart mobile app. This new tool is designed to make shopping faster and easier. Instead of digging through many product pages or reading long review lists, you can simply ask the AI shopping assistant a question like “Which blender is best for smoothies?” or “Help me plan a birthday party on a small budget.” Sparky then reads reviews, compares products, and gives clear choices so you can decide without stress.

What is an AI shopping assistant — explained simply

An AI shopping assistant is a conversational tool that understands plain language. You type or speak, and the assistant uses large language models to summarize reviews, check prices, compare features, and make shopping lists. It does more than show a product link — it tries to act like a helpful friend who knows the store and can suggest a full set of items for an event, offer alternatives, and explain the good and bad points in simple words. Walmart calls this idea “agentic commerce,” where the assistant helps finish tasks (like planning a party or reordering essentials) rather than only returning search results. 

How Sparky helps you today

Right now, Sparky—Walmart’s AI shopping assistant—offers useful, real things anyone can use:

• It summarizes customer reviews so you quickly know what people liked or disliked.

• It compares similar products in plain language.

• It builds occasion-based lists for birthdays, BBQs, or holidays.

• It helps reorder household staples with a few taps.

These features save time and stop the overwhelm of too many choices. Sparky sits behind an “Ask Sparky” button in the app, so it’s easy to try. 

Why this matters for everyday shoppers

Shopping online can be tiring: many pages, many tabs, and long reviews. An AI shopping assistant shortens that path. For busy people, older adults, or those who do not speak English well, a friendly assistant that uses simple words is a big help. It can make shopping feel human again — like asking a helpful store employee for advice. When the assistant explains things in plain language, people are more confident about what they buy.

The new ad experiment — what changed

Walmart has recently started testing ads inside Sparky. The company piloted a format called “Sponsored Prompts,” where some prompts can produce brand-sponsored suggestions and a quick click-to-buy option. This means the AI shopping assistant may sometimes show promoted items alongside regular recommendations. Walmart is testing this to grow ad revenue while keeping prices low, but early engagement with these ads has been small so far. 

Privacy and trust — what you should watch for

Because an AI shopping assistant learns from your choices to make better suggestions, you should check the app’s privacy and ad settings. Look for:

• Clear labels that show when a suggestion is sponsored.

• Simple controls to turn off ad personalization.

• Easy-to-find privacy options to review and delete data.

If ads are not clearly labeled or privacy controls are hidden, users may lose trust. That would make the assistant feel less like a friend and more like a salesperson.

What this means for brands and small sellers

For brands, an AI shopping assistant offers a chance to show products when shoppers are ready to buy. Small brands could be found without spending a lot on search ads if they show up in the right place. But brands must keep suggestions honest and useful—pushy or irrelevant suggestions will be ignored by shoppers.

The tech behind it — and a note on services

Making an AI shopping assistant work well needs many technical pieces: language models, current product catalogs, real-time price and stock data, and secure checkout links. Many retailers hire outside teams that offer AI/ML development services to connect models to live product pages and payments. These teams also tune the assistant to give accurate answers and protect user privacy.

Downsides and how to reduce them

No tool is perfect. Problems to watch for:

• Too many promoted results can reduce trust.

• Wrong product details or out-of-stock suggestions if data is not updated.

• Hard-to-find privacy settings that confuse people.

Retailers must balance making money and keeping the assistant helpful. Simple on/off controls for sponsored content and clear labels will go a long way.

Where this could go next

Sparky’s launch points to future possibilities. Imagine an AI shopping assistant that:

• Reads a photo of your pantry and suggests dinner ideas plus a shopping list.

• Automatically reorders your household basics with a confirmation step.

• Lets you shop inside ChatGPT or other chat tools through partnerships so you can buy while you chat. Walmart’s moves with OpenAI show this path is already forming.

Final thoughts — a simple tip to start

If you want to try an AI shopping assistant, open the Walmart app and tap the “Ask Sparky” button. Start with short questions and tell the assistant your budget so it can give better options. Watch for labels that mark sponsored items and check privacy settings if you want less personalization. When designed well, an AI shopping assistant can be like a patient friend who helps you find the right thing — fast, clearly, and without the stress.