Costco and Walmart Poised to Win AI Shopping Era

Agentic commerce, where AI agents shop and transact on behalf of consumers, could reshape e-commerce over the next decade. While risks exist around spending autonomy and payment methods, retailers with low prices and strong logistics stand to benefit most. Costco, despite its slow e-commerce adoption, is seen as a hidden AI innovator well-positioned for bulk-buy agent searches. Walmart, bolstered by its AI assistant Sparky and predictive basket technology, could dominate everyday grocery and discretionary purchases as autonomous shopping becomes mainstream.