ISLAMABAD: Walmart will roll out an AI training program for its employees next year through a new partnership with OpenAI, CEO Doug McMillon announced on Sunday.
The initiative was unveiled as Walmart hosted more than 300 employers and experts for its Skills-First Workforce Initiative, which encourages hiring based on abilities rather than degrees.
Walmart has already invested heavily in upskilling, with in-house training programs for truck drivers and maintenance technicians—roles U.S. companies struggle to fill as experienced workers retire. The new AI curriculum is designed to equip staff across stores, clubs, and distribution centers with digital tools to adapt to changing workflows.
McMillon told the Associated Press that AI will enhance most jobs rather than eliminate them. “Basically every job gets changed... getting ‘plussed up,’” he said, noting that corporate office roles are likely to evolve the fastest.
Store managers remain among Walmart’s most in-demand leaders, balancing people skills with data-driven operations. The company is also working to raise awareness of pay scales and career paths in skilled trades.
Sharing best practices with other companies is a core part of Walmart’s approach, McMillon added: “Our choice is to lean in, learn, and help lead so there are better outcomes for everybody involved.”
