Walmart + OpenAI: Shopping via ChatGPT Goes Mainstream

Walmart has announced a partnership with OpenAI that enables customers to buy Walmart products directly inside ChatGPT via Instant Checkout – no more redirects or multi-step funnels.
This marks a major validation of “agentic commerce” as not just theory but competitive reality. Since the news broke, Walmart’s stock soared, marking it the Dow’s top gainer for the day.

Walmart’s public message: the future is an “AI-first shopping experience” where the brand learns, predicts, and transacts in context. 

Source: Walmart Corporate News and Information

Salesforce Deepens AI Integration with OpenAI & Anthropic

Salesforce revealed an expanded collaboration with OpenAI and Anthropic to power its Agentforce 360 platform. The new “Agentforce Commerce” component will let merchants sell via ChatGPT’s Instant Checkout while preserving control over fulfillment and customer data. 
This is significant – enterprise software giant entering the agentic commerce lane means back-office and B2B systems are being refactored around AI native transaction logic.

Source: Reuters

India Pilots UPI Payments via ChatGPT

India’s payments authority (NPCI) has launched a pilot with OpenAI and Razorpay to enable ChatGPT-based e-commerce payments via UPI (Unified Payments Interface).
In a market where UPI processes billions of transactions monthly, this is a high-scale testbed for combining generative AI with real payment rails. If successful, this could become an archetype for AI commerce in other payments-centric economies.

Basis Theory Raises $33M for Agentic Payment Infrastructure

In funding news, Basis Theory secured $33 million to support the infrastructure behind AI-powered commerce and agentic payments. 
As more platforms expose checkout APIs to AI agents, foundational payment layers like Basis Theory may become essential plumbing – not optional extensions.

Source: Fintech Global

Strategic Implications for Xyra Group & Portfolio

1. The “agent layer” is no longer optional
   With Walmart as a visible bellwether, brands must think in terms of AI interfaces rather than just websites and marketplaces.

2. Control over product metadata, messaging, and fulfilment becomes survival
   Because AI agents will mediate discovery and conversion, brands that optimize for agent visibility will outperform.

3. B2B and enterprise platforms are rearchitecting around AI commerce
   Salesforce’s push signals that CRM, ERP, marketing stacks, and commerce stacks will converge under AI-native backplanes – we must align our acquisitions and integration strategies accordingly.

4. Payments and rails matter more than ever
   The India UPI pilot and the Basis Theory raise both point to payment orchestration becoming a competitive layer. We should evaluate whether portfolio companies must move beyond standard gateways to agent-aware payment infrastructures.

5. First-mover advantage in new markets is critical
   The India pilot is a reminder that AI commerce adoption will happen differently in each jurisdiction. Being early in markets with local rails (like UPI) can yield structural advantages.