Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is making headlines with a bold plan: roll out ChatGPT training to 2.1 million employees in what’s being billed as a push to future-proof the workforce. But behind the promise of “upskilling” lies a question that’s stirring unease across the company floor: is artificial intelligence (AI) poised to edge humans out of their everyday jobs? Keep reading to find out how this training initiative came about, what it really means for Walmart staff, and whether it’s a smart hedge or a thinly veiled warning that no role is untouchable in the age of AI.
Doug McMillon pushes AI skills program to prepare Walmart’s workforce
Walmart is gearing up its massive workforce for the AI-driven future. McMillon confirmed in September that the retail giant is preparing to roll out a large-scale artificial intelligence training program, designed to equip its 2.1 million employees worldwide with skills to thrive in a changing job market.
The initiative, developed in partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is expected to launch in 2026. It mirrors Walmart’s broader approach to employee development, building on efforts such as its Skills-First Workforce Initiative, which emphasizes practical abilities over formal degrees, and its training programs for essential roles like truck drivers and maintenance technicians.
McMillon has emphasized that AI is meant to enhance Walmart employees’ daily roles, noting that most workers he has spoken with welcome the technology. “I think as we all work to learn and navigate the future towards a world where AI fulfills its promise, the best way to do that is to work together and to share information and learn together,” he told the Associated Press. “It’ll speed up our ability to get ahead of this so that we can do a better job of setting up our associates for success. And that’s what we’re ultimately trying to do.”
According to McMillon, Walmart associates are already seeing benefits. “As it relates to AI and the future of employment, I think for the most part, our folks are enthusiastic about it because they’ve seen new tools that they’re receiving that are making their jobs better,” he said. “That’s helping them take fewer steps. And our sales are growing so much. I think people are optimistic about the future of what their life can look like.”
How safe are Walmart jobs from AI takeover?
The question of whether artificial intelligence could replace Walmart employees remains a pressing concern, but McMillon insists the picture is far from clear. “I think no one knows how this is going to play out exactly,” he admitted, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding AI’s role. “And the way it feels to me is that basically every job gets changed. And I think the best way to think about it is getting ‘plussed up.’”
For McMillon, adaptability is the path forward. “So, how can I lean in the role that I have, regardless of what that role is, to adopt new tools, leverage them, and make things better than they would’ve otherwise been?” he asked, pointing to the importance of embracing technology rather than resisting it.
The scale of the challenge is massive: of Walmart’s 2.1 million global workers, fewer than 75,000 are home office roles. According to McMillon, those jobs are likely to see the earliest impact of AI adoption. “The change as it relates to home office jobs probably happens faster,” he noted.
Despite the rapid pace of technological advances, McMillon stressed that Walmart remains committed to keeping human employees at the forefront of customer service. “We are still going to want to serve customers and members with people,” he said, suggesting that in-store roles are less at risk in the near term.
When asked directly about AI potentially eliminating jobs, McMillon offered a more optimistic outlook. “There will be pluses and minuses, but the net ends up being even more people because we have more ideas of how to grow,” he explained, adding that roles will likely evolve rather than disappear altogether.
He pointed to Walmart’s own history as evidence: in the past decade, new positions emerged alongside the rise of delivery and pickup services, transforming the way customers shop and reshaping the workforce. In McMillon’s view, AI may simply be the next stage in that ongoing evolution.
Sources: Associated Press, The U.S. Sun