The biggest retailer in America just admitted what millions of workers have been dreading.
CEO Doug McMillon finally said the quiet part out loud at a workforce conference this week.
And Walmart’s top executive dropped one bombshell about artificial intelligence that will change everything for American workers.
Walmart’s CEO admits AI will reshape "literally every job"
Doug McMillon didn’t mince words when he addressed a workforce conference in Bentonville, Arkansas this week.
The Walmart CEO delivered a stark warning that should have every American worker paying attention.
"It’s very clear that AI is going to change literally every job," McMillon declared.¹
This isn’t some distant possibility he’s talking about – this is happening right now.
Walmart employs 2.1 million people worldwide, making it one of the largest private employers on the planet.
When the head of a company that size makes a statement like this, smart people listen.
McMillon’s company is already knee-deep in the AI revolution, and the changes are accelerating faster than most people realize.
The retail giant has deployed chatbot agents to handle questions from customers, suppliers, and employees.
AI systems are now monitoring supply chain flows and tracking product trends in ways that would have been impossible just a few years ago.
But that’s just the beginning of what’s coming.
The plan to keep workers while completely changing their jobs
Here’s where McMillon’s strategy gets interesting – and potentially terrifying for workers.
Walmart plans to maintain its global workforce at around 2.1 million employees over the next three years, even as revenue continues to grow.
But here’s the catch that should make every worker nervous.
The composition of those jobs will change dramatically.
Company executives are already tracking which roles will decrease, which will increase, and which might remain stable.
Donna Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer, was refreshingly honest about the uncertainty facing workers.
"We’ve got to do our homework, and so we don’t have those answers," Morris admitted.²
Translation: They’re figuring this out as they go, and millions of workers are along for the ride whether they like it or not.
McMillon tried to sound reassuring when he said, "Our goal is to create the opportunity for everybody to make it to the other side."
But what exactly does "the other side" look like for American workers?
The automation wave is already hitting warehouses hard
Don’t think this is all theoretical planning for some distant future.
Walmart has already automated many warehouse processes using AI technology, and those changes have led to job reductions.
Now the company is exploring automation for back-of-store tasks that currently require human workers.
At the same time, new positions are emerging that didn’t exist before.
Walmart recently created something called an "agent builder" position to develop AI tools for merchants.
The company expects growth in home delivery services and what they call "high-touch customer areas" like bakeries.
They’ve also added in-store maintenance technicians and truck drivers as part of a strategy to pair AI efficiency with human-led customer interactions.
But here’s what should worry workers: the jobs being eliminated often pay better than the jobs being created.
What this means for American families
Look, McMillon can talk all he wants about putting "people in front of people" and serving human customers.
The bottom line is that artificial intelligence is reshaping the American economy at a pace that would have been unimaginable just five years ago.
Walmart isn’t unique in this transformation – they’re just being more honest about it than most companies.
Other major employers are quietly implementing similar changes without the public announcements.
The company brought in Daniel Danker from Instacart in July to lead these AI initiatives, and he reports directly to McMillon.
That tells you everything you need to know about how seriously Walmart is taking this transformation.
For working families across America, this isn’t just about one company changing how it operates.
This is about the fundamental restructuring of the American job market, and it’s happening whether politicians want to talk about it or not.
McMillon expects the changes to be gradual, noting that functions like call centers and online chats will become more AI-dependent before other tasks.
But "gradual" in corporate terms often means "faster than workers can adapt" in real-world terms.
The question isn’t whether AI will change American jobs – that ship has already sailed.
The question is whether American workers will have any say in how that transformation happens, or if they’ll just be expected to adapt to whatever corporate executives decide is most profitable.
Right now, it’s looking like the latter.
¹ Lucas Nolan, "Walmart CEO Doug McMillon: AI Will Reshape ‘Literally Every Job’," Breitbart, September 30, 2025.
² Ibid.
