There’s no doubt that artificial intelligence will have an impact, but what that transformation will look like in the near term is still uncertain. While some companies have taken certain actions, Walmart is betting on its existing workforce.
The retail giant has just announced that it will provide free AI training to its 1.6 million workforce.
Both frontline and corporate staff in the U.S. and Canada will have access to an eight-hour course on the fundamentals of AI as part of its partnership with Google’s new initiative.
The training course covers core concepts as well as how AI relates to more specialized topics such as research, app building, and communication.
Walmart joins other major employers – including [company names not provided] – in giving its workforce access to the Google credential.
Just 5% of workers are AI fluent: Walmart’s chief people officer says it’s on employers to bridge the gap
This push comes as new research from Google and Ipsos highlights a growing skills gap. Only 40% of U.S. workers say they’re using AI on the job, and just 5% are considered “AI fluent,” meaning they’ve significantly redesigned or reorganized parts of their work around AI innovations. Those who are AI fluent were found to be 4.5 times more likely to have received higher wages.
Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer, said the gap represents both a risk and a responsibility.
“As big employers, we should be actively involved in equipping our employees – in our case, associates – to be ready for a world that is AI-enabled, automated, or digitized,” Morris exclusively told [publication name not provided] before the announcement, calling it “unfortunate” when companies use AI to replace workers instead of training them for the future.
For Walmart, she added, the goal isn’t just about productivity; it’s about retaining talent in the long run. Workers who develop AI skills may be better positioned to move into higher-paying store leadership roles (top-performing [role name not provided] earn between $420,000 and $620,000) or transition into corporate positions.
“We want to ensure that we provide all of our associates with the best tools to enable them to be successful as Walmart continues to transform into a people-led, tech-powered company,” Morris added. “But equally important is that each of our associates has the ability to manage their own careers.”
Walmart executives believe AI will change every job—but not necessarily eliminate them
Corporate leaders across industries have been [description not provided]. Walmart’s top executives are no different.
“It’s very clear that AI is going to change every job,” then-Walmart CEO [name not provided] said last September. ([name not provided] earlier this month.)
The Arkansas-based company’s newly appointed top leader, [name not provided], has indicated that the company doesn’t expect AI to cause widespread workforce cuts.
“When we look ahead two, three, or five years, I think we’ll have roughly the same number of people as we do today,” [name not provided] said in September when he was leading Walmart’s U.S. operations.
Instead of eliminating jobs, Furner suggested that AI will reshape them – and potentially make them more valuable.
“We’re extending people’s careers, and those jobs pay better,” Furner said. “The attrition rates are really low.”
Still, Morris emphasized that change is inevitable – but humans will remain central.
“We all have to change. That’s an ongoing requirement, but we all have the opportunity to embrace that new future,” Morris said.
“I think new jobs will be created. I think new businesses will be created. I think the way we do things will change. But that doesn’t mean humans will be left behind.”