Walmart dumps OpenAI at the checkout
the customers? not so convinced https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRr99-BH_sk&list=UU9rJrMVgcXTfa8xuMnbhAEA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRr99-BH_sk&list=UU9rJrMVgcXTfa8xuMnbhAEA] - video https://pivottoai.libsyn.com/20260324-walmart-dumps-openai-at-the-checkout [https://pivottoai.libsyn.com/20260324-walmart-dumps-openai-at-the-checkout] - podcast time: 4 min 20 sec
The retailers really want chatbot shopping. OpenAI really wants chatbot shopping. The customers with the money? They’re not so convinced.
They want it because word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools. And when the robot sounds like your friend, and companion, it will feel like authentic word of mouth.
It sounds like the logistics of it all was a non-starter. I assume that chatbots recommending just products while not focusing on one distributor/store will work better. They will try this again.
I have no idea what they want us to do with these stupid chatbots for shopping. is it to make advertising their shit sound more conversational?
I ain’t going to the big store like this without some modicum of idea what I already want. And get suckered into buying a bit more when I peruse the aisle :P
It’s for boomers who can’t navigate websites, menus, and search bars, and just want to text someone and tell them what to buy.
And it’s for teenagers, who (the AI bros hope) will never learn how to navigate websites, menus, and search bars, and will spend their entire lives relying on AI tools to facilitate (and filter and censor and control) their access to the Internet.
David Gerard
paraphrand
pinball_wizard