At its annual Associates Week, Walmart executives reassured its 2.1 million employees that artificial intelligence is intended to augment their roles rather than replace them. Amid growing anxiety about AI-driven job cuts, Chief People Officer Donna Morris stated, "Technology will power our future. But our associates will lead it." The company is accelerating its AI adoption, using it for tasks ranging from logistics and inventory management to product design.
Walmart announced that any U.S. employee can now get certified in the use of OpenAI tools, underscoring its commitment to upskilling its workforce. The message comes shortly after Walmart laid off hundreds in its tech and product design teams, though it did not directly link the cuts to AI. A shareholder proposal for a report on AI's impact on workers was recently rejected.