AI is leading the way for workforces across the globe, but Walmart isn’t taking a passive approach to prepare itself for what’s to come. A new Walmart AI certification program, in partnership with OpenAI, is set to prepare U.S. frontline and office-based employees for AI-related tasks. The Walmart-OpenAI certification program is set to begin in 2026, included as a part of the company’s Live Better U education program.
With nearly $1 billion committed to skill training for employees next year, Walmart is certainly on the right track to doing more to upskill employees as the largest employer in the world.
OpenAI and Walmart’s AI certification program is set to aid US frontline and office-based employees in leveling up their AI skills next year.(Image: Pexels)
The Walmart AI Certification Program Recenters Employee Training
Walmart is doing its best to hold on to its spot ahead of the competition, and adopting AI into its operations is just one of the many ways it’s set to stay ahead. The rise of AI has threatened workforces with layoffs, and Walmart has not been immune to job cuts this year either. However, the business has also announced a couple of different measures to support its workers. While the year-round worker discount on groceries is a very useful perk for employees to enjoy, additional support in terms of career growth is always a welcome addition for most.
“At Walmart, we know the future of retail won’t be defined by technology alone—it will be defined by people who know how to use it. By bringing AI training directly to our associates, we’re putting the most powerful technology of our time in their hands—giving them the skills to rewrite the playbook and shape the future of retail,” John Furner, CEO of Walmart US, said in a statement.
OpenAI is easily one of the biggest names in the artificial intelligence space, and Walmart is equally renowned as one of the largest retailers around. The collaboration between the two parties could be vital to encouraging other businesses to follow suit with AI training and employee certifications next year.
What We Know About OpenAI’s AI Training Program
In a recent update on the website, OpenAI announced that it was building an OpenAI Jobs Platform to meet business needs. The platform is expected to showcase candidates with different skill levels to make it easier for companies to find employees who fit the bill on the level of experience required for a role. “The jobs platform won’t just be a way for big companies to attract more talent. It will have a track dedicated to helping local businesses compete, and local governments find the AI talent they need to better serve their constituents,” the company wrote in the post.
Additionally, to help ensure that candidates on the platform are genuinely skilled with its AI tools, the business is also set to introduce OpenAI Certifications, which are expected to be an extension of the OpenAI Academy services launched earlier this year. The academy will offer certifications for “different levels of AI fluency,” using AI to teach AI.
The goal? To certify 10 million Americans by 2030. For this mission, Walmart is set to be one of its launch partners, helping the company prepare its employees while also boosting the AI platform as a top choice for AI literacy.
Understanding the Walmart-OpenAI Partnership
While the OpenAI certification program is a separate project meant for a wider audience, the Walmart-OpenAI partnership will allow employees to have access to a more tailored version of this certification program. The pilot phase is expected to launch around the end of 2025 or early 2026. Walmart’s AI training program is primarily designed to be beneficial to U.S. frontline and office-based employees, who are most likely to begin utilizing AI in their operations.
Walmart’s AI certification program is just one part of the changes being introduced at the retailer in preparation for an AI-powered future. The company has already introduced a conversational AI tool for employees to interact with and improve their efficiency. Back in July, Walmart also announced the release of four AI “super agents” into its company-wide framework to simplify tasks at various critical junctures of the organization.
Should You Follow Suit and Look Into Duplicating Walmart’s AI Training Program?
As Walmart trains employees on AI, its workers will certainly become more capable of handling the tools and technologies the company introduces in the future. Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon doesn’t believe that these AI tools are lifting their top-line sales just yet, but they remain excited for what lies ahead. While the quality and usefulness of Walmart’s AI certification program with OpenAI remain to be seen, the company does appear to be on the right track.
Instead of treading through unknown waters without a plan, Walmart is set to train workers on AI with the support of programs created by the AI makers themselves. This should make it easier for the training to touch on matters that are of relevance to employees, without relying on workers to independently figure things out on their own time.
AI experts are in high demand, and identifying the right talent on the market can be an arduous task. Instead, training workers who already have all the other requirements for the job can help with retention as well as internal circulation of talent, allowing everyone to walk away from the experience satisfied. Whether you follow in Walmart’s footsteps with AI certification programs from OpenAI or rely on your own resources to build these programs, upskilling and reskilling employees to keep up with the times can work in your favor in the long run.
What do you think about the Walmart AI certification program and its ability to support employees? Let us know! Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.