Walmart doubles down on AI with broader rollout of coding tools | CIO Dive

Feb 21, 2025

Coding assistance and completion tools saved developers around 4 million hours last year, the retailer said during an earnings call Thursday.

Walmart moved quickly to embrace generative AI. The company took a “diverge, then converge” approach to the technology as it transitioned from discovery to execution, CIO Dive reported last year.

Part of Walmart’s shift in approach to AI centered on narrowing its scope. Companies that implemented an AI strategy, built advanced capabilities and began to realize benefits last year took a similar approach, according to BCG data. Leading organizations pursued about half as many AI projects compared with less advanced businesses, BCG research found.

Walmart leaned into expanding generative AI access and using the technology to enhance customer and associate experiences. The retailer boosted adoption of its internal generative AI tool, My Assistant. Now, Walmart’s increasing the amount of developers using coding tools. It also used the technology to improve data hygiene to better search and discovery capabilities, ultimately leading to CX wins.

Despite rising enterprise disillusionment with AI last year, most companies continued to prioritize the technology.

While more than 4 in 5 IT decision-makers say their company progressed toward AI goals last year, returns were harder to come by, according to an IBM report. Most businesses yet to reach ROI expect cost savings to occur within three years, and around 44% anticipate turning the corner sooner.

For some businesses, the sustained efforts have already begun to pay off. General Mills executives credited the food manufacturer’s AI projects with driving millions in cost-savings, during a conference earlier this week. Financial services company Charles Schwab tied expanded AI use to trimmed costs, too.

AI agents are the latest frontier enterprises are exploring on the path to unlock efficiencies and improve experiences. Two-thirds of organizations are pursuing AI agents already, BCG research found. Walmart said it is using an AI agent to help merchants identify the root cause of issues related to supply management.

“We’ve got opportunities to save money, get faster and we’re making fluid decisions about how much we invest in technology,” McMillon said.

Walmart’s fourth-quarter revenue was up 4.1%, totaling $180.6 billion. Its e-commerce business and grocery segment saw growth as well, but the retailer warned of slower profit growth this fiscal year.