Gemini now allows you to purchase products from Walmart and Sam’s Club directly within the chat.

      Walmart shoppers now have an alternative to the agentic shopping experience provided by ChatGPT.

      After introducing several shopping features to Gemini late last year, Google is taking further steps. The company has recently unveiled a new standard named the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), designed to enhance the shopping experience in the chatbot and AI Mode of Search.

      The UCP encompasses everything from product discovery to post-sale support, with the goal of streamlining shopping for users of Gemini and Search. Walmart has confirmed its status as one of the first retailers to embrace this standard, enabling users to explore, compare, and purchase items from Walmart and Sam’s Club directly within the chat interface.

      In response to shopping-related inquiries, Gemini will now present both in-store and online products from Walmart and Sam’s Club. Users will be able to buy these items after linking their accounts, and Walmart will even suggest complementary products based on users' past purchases.

      According to Walmart, this partnership signifies a wider trend toward agent-led commerce, where AI takes on a larger role in the shopping process for users. John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart US, stated that this initiative represents “the next great revolution in retail,” allowing the retailer to “assist customers in obtaining what they need and want, when and where they want it.”

      The new agentic shopping experience will first launch in Gemini in the US before expanding to additional markets. It remains unclear whether this feature will encompass the entirety of Walmart and Sam’s Club's product catalogs or start with a limited selection.

      Walmart’s collaboration with Gemini is not its first venture into AI-driven shopping. Last year, Walmart partnered with OpenAI to utilize ChatGPT’s Instant Checkout feature, enabling users to browse and purchase selected products through the chatbot.

      Additionally, Gemini might not be the last platform to offer this type of shopping experience, as Microsoft introduced its agentic commerce feature, called Copilot Checkout, just last week. Although the company has not yet formed partnerships with major retailers like Walmart, it has already initiated connections with Shopify, PayPal, and Stripe.

      In other news, NVIDIA is rumored to have informed AIB partners that the RTX 50 SUPER refresh is on an unusual timeline, which is relevant for those anticipating a VRAM upgrade rather than purchasing an RTX 5000 card currently.

      Discussions about the delay of the RTX 50 SUPER have resurfaced, impacting those aiming to time a GPU upgrade. Reports from Gazlog suggest that NVIDIA has indefinitely postponed the GeForce RTX 5000 SUPER series, even while existing RTX 5000 cards remain limited and costly.

      Although NVIDIA has not confirmed any of this, potential buyers may want to consider whether they can manage with current pricing and availability or if they should delay their purchase further.

      In another development, a new 27-inch QHD monitor targeting a 610Hz refresh rate aims to cater to competitive gamers who seek ultra-smooth motion for critical gameplay moments.

      The 610Hz QHD gaming monitor panel offers specifications that could entice even seasoned PC gamers to take notice. If released as anticipated, it could enhance motion clarity during decisive game moments when rapid adjustments are necessary.

      What makes this monitor stand out is its combination of features: it’s a 27-inch 2560x1440 LCD panel, delivering extreme speed without dropping to 1080p, which is significant for those who prefer the sharper appearance of 1440p while engaging in competitive play.

      Lastly, Microsoft has unveiled Copilot Checkout, which enables users to shop and pay without exiting the chat interface.

      Copilot Checkout is being rolled out in the US for merchants using Shopify, PayPal, and Stripe. OpenAI previously introduced the Instant Checkout feature in ChatGPT last year, allowing users to browse and purchase products seamlessly. Following suit, Google quickly included shoppable product listings in its Gemini app, and now Microsoft has announced a comparable checkout experience for Copilot.

      According to Microsoft, Copilot Checkout allows users to browse, compare, and purchase products without leaving the chat screen. The company has teamed up with Shopify, PayPal, and Stripe to facilitate this experience and promises an easy onboarding process for businesses wanting to get involved.