Walmart has taken steps to address growing anxiety among its workforce about artificial intelligence potentially replacing jobs. Last week, the retail giant convened thousands of employees at its Arkansas headquarters to emphasize that AI is intended to support and enhance their work rather than eliminate positions. This message comes at a time when AI has become the leading cause cited by U.S. companies for layoffs over recent months.
In a recent move, Walmart reorganized its corporate structure by cutting or relocating around 1,000 employees, aligning its global technology and product divisions more closely. Despite these changes, company leaders emphasize a future where AI transforms work processes but does not displace human workers. Donna Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer, assured employees that technology will drive innovation while associates remain central to the company’s operations.
To support this transition, Walmart announced that any U.S.-based employee can now access certification in OpenAI technologies, positioning workers to better engage with AI tools. This internal push gained momentum last year with the hiring of Daniel Danker, formerly of Instacart, as executive vice-president for AI acceleration, product, and design. Notably, Danker’s compensation reportedly outpaced that of then-CEO Doug McMillon, reflecting the company’s prioritization of AI capabilities.
Recognizing innovation at the operational level, Walmart recently honored engineers behind its “vibe coding” platform, which enables hourly employees to create software solutions addressing business challenges. This initiative aligns with Walmart’s broader approach to integrating AI and automation across its operations.
However, Walmart’s AI strategy has not been without shareholder scrutiny. Investors recently rejected a proposal from United for Respect that called for the company to provide a detailed report on AI’s impact on the workforce. The proposal sought transparency on principles guiding AI deployment, workforce impact metrics such as job quality and compensation, and governance mechanisms overseeing AI tools. Walmart’s board opposed the measure, arguing existing management processes adequately address AI integration and additional reporting was unnecessary.