Walmart CEO John Furner told investors on the retailer's Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings call that the company is "becoming AI native," crediting its Sparky shopping agent with measurable commercial gains. Weekly active users of Sparky rose more than 100% in the quarter, while customers who use the agent post roughly 35% higher average order values than those who do not.
Walmart said Sparky's response quality improved 40% this year and that units purchased through the agent more than quadrupled from the prior quarter. The assistant now spans the website, mobile app and in-store experience, handling personalized replenishment, meal planning and inventory-aware recommendations, and has expanded to Spanish-speaking shoppers.
The AI push rode a strong quarter: online sales grew more than 20% for a fifth straight quarter and advertising revenue jumped 37% globally. Furner framed AI as central to inventory positioning, fulfillment and real-time service, not just the storefront.