Walmart is taking a bold step toward challenging Amazon’s dominance in online retail by embedding AI and “agentic commerce” into its shopping experience. The company recently announced a collaboration with OpenAI that lets customers and Sam’s Club members buy items directly through ChatGPT using an “Instant Checkout” feature.
But that’s only one front. Walmart is also rolling out Sparky, a generative-AI shopping assistant that can summarize product reviews, suggest items, and help plan purchases. The broader vision is a set of AI “super agents” that work across customers, employees, suppliers, and developers. These agents are meant to act with minimal human intervention, automating many of the tasks that today require multiple apps or tools.
Walmart is also rethinking its supply chain and global operations using real-time AI and automation. The same tools used to optimize inventory, route shipments, and foresee demand in U.S. markets are now scaling globally. And on the talent side, the company recently hired Daniel Danker (formerly of Instacart) to lead its global AI initiatives, signaling serious commitment from the top.
Amazon, of course, isn’t standing still. It is doubling down on its in-house AI stack and infrastructure, even as Walmart adopts a more embedded/agentic approach. Amazon is also opening its fulfillment network to some Walmart Marketplace sellers—allowing Amazon to ship orders for items sold on Walmart via its own logistics network. The result: the rivalry is now not just over product or price, but over how deeply AI controls the interface between shopper and store.
If Walmart’s strategy works, it could reshape how consumers think about shopping. Instead of browsing pages or comparing apps, people might just “ask” their AI and let it do the rest. For Walmart, that could mean a serious bump in digital share; for Amazon, it’s pressure to evolve further or risk ceding space.
Bits of Great Boeing News
While much of the aerospace narrative has been risk-focused in recent years, Boeing has cleared several significant achievements and milestones lately. Here are three positives worth noting:
EU Clears Boeing’s $4.7B Spirit AeroSystems Deal
European regulators approved Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems on the condition that Boeing divest certain operations that supply Airbus, including Spirit’s Malaysian site. The approval helps smooth what had been a regulatory hurdle. The deal still needs U.S. approval, but EU clearance is a key win for Boeing’s strategy to integrate more of its supply chain.
$2.7B in New Contracts for Patriot Missile Seekers
Boeing secured multiyear contracts worth about $2.7 billion to produce PAC-3 seeker units for the inflation of the U.S. missile defense system through 2030. Under this deal, Boeing (as a subcontractor) will help deliver over 3,000 seekers, with production scaling up to ~750 annually. This reinforces Boeing’s defense portfolio and gives it steady revenue in a high-demand sector amid global geopolitical uncertainty.
Strong Commercial Deliveries & Innovation in Parts Authentication
- Commercial deliveries: In Q3 2025, Boeing delivered 160 aircraft across its programs — including 121 737s — bringing the year-to-date total to 440 units. While still trailing Airbus, it represents a solid production push.
- Parts authentication innovation: Boeing, alongside Southwest Airlines and Aeroxchange, completed the aerospace industry’s first parts shipment accompanied by a digital 8130-3 certificate (the FAA’s Authorized Release Certificate). This blockchain-oriented approach strengthens security and traceability in the supply chain, helping prevent unapproved or counterfeit parts from entering the market.