Walmart Deploys AI Across 2 Million Workers with 'Code Puppy' Tool

Walmart is pushing artificial intelligence deep into its workforce of more than 2 million employees, giving workers at every level—from software engineers to forklift operators—the ability to create their own AI-powered solutions.

At the company's annual shareholder meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, executives showcased how the retail giant is using AI to accelerate operations across its global enterprise. The centerpiece of this strategy is a tool called Code Puppy, which enables employees to build custom AI agents through "vibe-coding"—a simplified development approach that doesn't require traditional programming expertise.

Democratizing AI development from the warehouse floor

CEO John Furner told reporters the company aims to "democratize the access to learning and democratize the access to making a difference" by spreading AI capabilities throughout the organization. Code Puppy, developed by Walmart Global Tech distinguished engineer Mike Pfaffenberger, represents a departure from the typical corporate approach of centralizing AI development within specialized tech departments.

The tool allows ideas to emerge from any location in Walmart's global network—whether Bangalore, Toronto, Mexico City, or a distribution center in Kansas—and scale rapidly across the enterprise. Furner emphasized that the company surfaces existing solutions and tracks adoption rates to identify what works.

Walmart is already applying AI across its operations. Order pickers follow AI-generated routes through stores, and the system now coordinates with in-store Subway restaurants to time sandwich preparation perfectly for delivery orders. "That is the AI that's timing everything to make sure the sandwich is going to be hot if it's hot—always fresh," said Greg Cathey, Walmart's head of digital fulfillment.

At Sam's Club, Director of Consumer Insights Sue Jervis uses multimodal AI to analyze feedback from a 150,000-member community, extracting not just what customers say but the emotional tone behind their comments. The company's Sparky chatbot is also generating valuable data through natural language interactions that differ significantly from traditional search queries.

Worker concerns about AI-driven pace

Not everyone celebrates the AI push. Ava Williams, an overnight stocker in Washington, presented a shareholder proposal backed by United for Respect, a retail worker coalition, arguing that AI-powered workflows create unrealistic expectations that force employees to cut corners.

"We are not asking Walmart to stop using technology. We are asking for technology that works for us, not against us," Williams said. Shareholders rejected the proposal, and Walmart pointed to existing channels for employee feedback.

The company has launched an AI credentialing program developed with OpenAI, available to all employees. One logistics manager who completed Google AI certification used those skills to build an agent that optimizes delivery routes to get drivers home faster with fewer empty trucks.

Why it matters

Walmart's approach represents a fundamental shift in how large enterprises can deploy AI—not as a top-down technology initiative but as a distributed capability that taps frontline knowledge. If successful, this model could accelerate innovation cycles and create competitive advantages that are difficult for rivals to replicate. However, the tension between automation efficiency and worker experience remains a critical challenge that will shape how AI transforms retail work.

On Friday, Furner awarded Pfaffenberger and colleague John Choi the President's Innovation Award for Code Puppy. Chief Technology Officer Suresh Kumar called it "a vibe-coding tool that turns associates into engineers."

These details were first reported by Business Insider.