In 2025, Walmart isn't just using AI—it's redefining retail with a sophisticated ecosystem of tools powered by its proprietary Element platform. This in-house machine learning powerhouse enables rapid, scalable deployment of AI across operations, from fraud detection to personalized shopping. Built on a multi-cloud architecture, Element ensures flexibility, cost efficiency, and ethical governance, allowing Walmart to integrate best-of-breed models while maintaining control over data and security.
What started as targeted applications in fraud prevention and cybersecurity has exploded into agentic AI—autonomous systems that act, decide, and optimize in real-time. Here's an expanded look at Walmart's key AI tools and how they're transforming the retail giant.
Core Foundation: Element Platform
At the heart of Walmart's AI strategy is Element, a custom ML platform that accelerates development from weeks to hours. It supports everything from model training to deployment, handling millions of queries daily while embedding governance for bias detection and privacy.
- Enables LLM-agnostic apps, picking the best model for each task.
- Powers 3 million daily queries across 900,000 weekly users.
- Reduces operationalization time dramatically, fostering an "AI foundry" for rapid innovation.
AI for Fraud Detection and Payment Security
Walmart processes billions in transactions yearly, making robust fraud tools essential.
- Real-Time Monitoring ML Models: Analyze patterns, behavior, device fingerprints, and locations to flag anomalies like stolen cards or account takeovers.
- Redemption System: Proprietary algorithm detects gift card fraud, freezing suspicious balances and returning millions to victims.
- Missed Scan Detection: AI cameras at self-checkouts identify unscanned items, reducing shrink since 2017.
- Marketplace Fraud Prevention: AI scans listings for counterfeits, IP violations, and bad sellers in real-time, combined with human oversight.
These tools block billions of bot attacks monthly and contribute to lower losses amid rising e-commerce fraud.
Cybersecurity and Defense Tools
Walmart's scale attracts sophisticated threats, so AI is integral to defense.
- AI Security Posture Management (AI-SPM): Monitors agentic AI risks in real-time.
- Zero Trust IAM: Context-aware access with short-lived credentials.
- Generative AI Red-Teaming: Simulates attacks to preempt phishing and anomalies.
- Automated Threat Intelligence: Tools like enhanced ViperMonkey parse millions of malicious files yearly.
Led by the CISO, these evolve defenses against AI-amplified threats.
Tools for Associates and Operations
Empowering 1.5 million employees is a 2025 priority.
- AI-Directed Workflow Tool: Prioritizes tasks (e.g., stocking), cutting planning from 90 to 30 minutes.
- Real-Time Translator: Supports 44 languages for associates and customers.
- VizPick AR: Pairs with RFID for faster inventory location.
- My Assistant: GenAI app for corporate teams—summarizes docs, drafts content.
- Digital Twins: Spatial AI simulates stores to predict maintenance, reducing alerts by 30%.
Agentic AI automates payroll, merchandising, and developer tasks via tools like WIBEY.
Customer-Facing Innovations
Walmart's AI makes shopping intuitive and immersive.
- Sparky: Multimodal GenAI assistant—replaces search bars with voice/text/image queries, curates lists, and creates digital showrooms.
- GenAI Search: Understands context for themed shopping (e.g., party planning).
- Text to Shop: Voice/text ordering.
- OpenAI Partnership: Enhances catalogs, care resolution (up 40%), and instant checkout.
Users of these tools spend 25% more on average.
Supply Chain and Marketplace Tools
- Agentic AI for Logistics: Optimizes inventory, forecasting, and fulfillment.
- Seller AI Tools: Pricing, inventory, promotions; Wally assistant for merchants.
The Road Ahead
Walmart's AI investments—guided by ethical guidelines and partnerships like OpenAI—focus on "people-led, tech-powered" retail. From blocking fraud to delighting customers, these tools aren't just efficiencies; they're building an adaptive, resilient empire. As agentic systems evolve, expect even more autonomous, personalized experiences in 2026 and beyond.
Insights from Walmart corporate announcements, Global Tech blogs, and industry reports (2025).