What does this mean for workers? Walmart's moves touch 8 jobs, which together employ about 15.7 million people in the U.S. Across them, AI and robots already touch between 1h 17m (stockers and order fillers) and 7h 41m (industrial truck and tractor operators) of a typical 8-hour shift. A single company's move is an early signal for these jobs, and the time cards show how far the change has spread nationally.
Pulled back means the company ended, paused or reversed the change. Rolling out means it is in use and spreading to more locations or teams. Announced means the company said it would do this; nothing is running yet.
On the floor
- Walmart swaps self-checkout for staffed registers at a Philadelphia store
Walmart removed self-checkout lanes at its South Philadelphia store in March and replaced them with staffed registers. A spokesperson said it is the only Philadelphia store to fully roll back self-checkout.
- Walmart gives 1.5 million associates AI task and translation tools
Walmart launched an AI task management tool for overnight stocking that cut shift planning from 90 minutes to 30, plus AI translation in 44 languages. The tools are for its 1.5 million associates.
Intelligent CIO · Stockers and Order Fillers, Retail Salespersons, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
- Walmart expands drone delivery to 100 stores in five new cities
Walmart and Wing will launch drone delivery at 100 stores in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa. Walmart has made over 150,000 drone deliveries since 2021.
- Walmart adds 19 autonomous forklifts at four distribution centers
Walmart is deploying 19 Fox Robotics FoxBot autonomous forklifts at four distribution centers in Florida, Texas, New York and Alabama. It followed a 16-month test at its Brooksville, Florida, facility.
- Walmart targets automation for 65% of stores by early 2026
Walmart expected about 65% of stores to be served by automation and 55% of fulfillment volume to run through automated facilities by the end of fiscal 2026. It said headcount would hold steady or grow as roles change.
TipRanks / The Fly · Stockers and Order Fillers, Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Jobs affected
- Stockers and Order Fillers1h 17m of 8h touched · 2.8 million workers · $37k · +8.9% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Operate equipment such as forklifts (28m a shift, robots)
- Cashiers3h 47m of 8h touched · 3.1 million workers · $33k · -6.5% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits (1h 41m a shift, robots)
- Retail Salespersons4h 39m of 8h touched · 3.9 million workers · $35k · -0.3% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires (1h 10m a shift, AI on its own)
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers3h 13m of 8h touched · 1.1 million workers · $49k · -3.7% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints (1h 12m a shift, AI on its own)
- Couriers and Messengers5h 6m of 8h touched · 69,000 workers · $39k · +8% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials (2h 33m a shift, robots)
- Light Truck Drivers6h 29m of 8h touched · 983,000 workers · $45k · +6.3% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Drive vehicles with capacities under three tons to transport materials to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards (3h 14m a shift, robots)
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators7h 41m of 8h touched · 774,000 workers · $46k · +1.5% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Move levers or controls that operate lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams with swivel-hooks, hoists, or elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, or stack material (2h 28m a shift, robots)
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand4h 32m of 8h touched · 3 million workers · $40k · +1.8% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Move freight, stock, or other materials to and from storage or production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, or containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, or other equipment (4h 13m a shift, robots)