AI is going to change ‘every job,’ says Walmart CEO

One of America’s largest private employers, Walmart, is looking to automate work, with CEO Doug McMillon recently saying, “It’s very clear that AI is going to change literally every job” in the company.

His comments echo what several tech CEOs have said in the past year, but now it is coming from a retailer. It makes Walmart one of the most blunt major employers to acknowledge the disruption ahead.

The retail giant, which employs 2.1 million people worldwide, plans to keep headcount steady for the next three years. However, executives have begun examining AI’s role in the workforce, indicating that job types may change soon.

Warehouses have already seen automation-driven cuts. New positions, like “agent builders,” who design AI tools to assist merchants, are being created.

At the same time, Walmart has also boosted hiring in delivery, bakeries, maintenance, and truck driving.

Not just Walmart
Ford’s CEO recently predicted AI could replace half of US white-collar workers, while Accenture said last week that it is “exiting” employees who don’t fit the AI age.

Silver lining
Executives from Bank of America and Blackstone emphasize that the right training and adaptability can help individuals navigate the AI disruption, and that soft skills such as maintaining relationships and building work connections will become increasingly important.