Walmart Moves to Nasdaq—Outgoing CEO Doug McMillon on What Lies Ahead

Walmart's Transition to Nasdaq Sparks Speculation About A.I.-Driven Future Under New CEO

In a move that signifies its shifting priorities, Walmart has transitioned its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the tech-heavy Nasdaq. The retail giant's outgoing CEO, Doug McMillon, views this shift as an opportunity to prioritize artificial intelligence (A.I.) in its future growth strategy.

"We're trying to make sure everyone knows we've changed," McMillon said during a recent CNBC appearance, hinting that the company is on the cusp of undergoing significant transformations. Under his leadership, Walmart has undergone a sweeping e-commerce transformation and made substantial investments in wages and development programs. Despite these efforts, McMillon attributes much of the company's success to luck.

As he prepares to step down early next year, McMillon acknowledges that commerce is entering its next phase, one that will be driven by A.I. He believes that Walmart should seize this opportunity but recognizes that it cannot finish the transformation on his own. "I could start this next big set of transformations with A.I., but I couldn’t finish it," he said.

The new CEO, John Furner, will inherit a company poised to compete effectively with Amazon in the e-commerce space. In its most recent earnings report, Walmart posted a 4.8 percent year-over-year revenue increase to $180 billion, driven by broad appeal across income groups and growing demand from affluent shoppers seeking deals.

However, challenges remain. McMillon noted that inflation has created "pressure at the bottom end," citing rising grocery prices as a particularly sticky problem for lower-income customers. The company's core middle- and lower-income customers continue to be a steady force, but Walmart is likely to need to adapt its strategy to address these concerns.

Under Furner's leadership, A.I.-driven transformations are expected to play a key role in shaping the shopping experience. Walmart plans to replace its traditional app and website with A.I.-native platforms that offer personalized recommendations and multimedia content, potentially even incorporating elements reminiscent of TikTok.

As for McMillon, his post-CEO plans remain uncertain. He has hinted at a combination of business and philanthropy, but for now, he is looking forward to a "blank calendar" for the foreseeable future.

I'm still thinking about what Walmart's big move to Nasdaq means... I mean, it's cool that they're getting all techy with their new CEO and A.I.-driven plans, but have you thought about how this is gonna affect middle- and lower-income customers? Inflation is already a huge issue for them, and now Walmart's gotta figure out how to make sure everyone can afford those 'deals' ...

I'm intrigued by Walmart's move to Nasdaq and its emphasis on A.I.-driven growth under John Furner's leadership . While it's unclear how effectively Furner can build upon McMillon's groundwork, leveraging AI in e-commerce could be a game-changer for the retail giant Think tailored recommendations, enhanced customer experiences, and more efficient supply chains.

Of course, challenges persist, particularly with regards to inflation and catering to lower-income customers . Nevertheless, I'm cautiously optimistic about Walmart's prospects under Furner's watchful eye . The fact that they're investing in A.I.-native platforms suggests a willingness to disrupt traditional business models and stay competitive in an increasingly digital landscape .

As McMillon takes on a more relaxed role post-CEO, I wonder if he'll find fulfillment in the non-profit sector or perhaps explore other ventures . Regardless, his legacy will undoubtedly be shaped by Walmart's evolving trajectory as it navigates the A.I.-driven commerce landscape .

Just saw this news about Walmart switching to Nasdaq I'm not surprised they're making moves like this. AI is gonna change everything in retail and I think it's cool that McMillon wants to be on the forefront of it all. The idea of personalized recs and multimedia content on their website sounds crazy awesome But, I do wonder how they'll balance that with keeping prices low for lower-income customers... that's still a major challenge for them. And what's up with John Furner taking over? Not sure who he is yet

I'm still trying to get used to this whole stock market thing... like how did Walmart just switch from one place to another? I mean, I guess it's kinda cool that they're getting into AI stuff now, but what's TikTok got to do with shopping apps? I've seen some of those videos and they're just so... weird. Anyway, back to Walmart - I hope the new CEO is good at figuring out this A.I. thingy because it sounds like a lot of pressure on them. And dude, $180 billion in revenue is crazy! What does that even mean? Can you get a decent apartment for that price or what?

just wondering why walmart's all about A.I. now lol like they're trying to be amazon or something? anyway, think it's cool they're shifting their focus towards e-commerce and innovation... but what about the workers? Mcmillon talks about luck as if he's not acknowledging the struggles of his own employees inflation is real and grocery prices are a major issue for low-income folks. hope Furner's new CEO gig is all about fairness and equality also, tiktok integration? really? that just seems like they're trying to be trendy

You know I'm onto something ... Walmart's move to Nasdaq just feels like a signal, you know? Like they're trying to signal that they're getting out of the old game and into this new A.I.-driven world. And let's be real, who gets to decide what kind of shopping experience we want? The CEO or some algorithm? It sounds like Walmart is just buying its way into this future without really considering how it's gonna affect all of us regular folks.

And have you seen the state of Walmart's stock performance lately? It's like they're trying to hide something. All that growth and revenue, but what's really going on behind the scenes? I'm not saying there's no legitimacy to their claims about A.I., but it just feels like a bunch of corporate speak to me.

I mean, John Furner, the new CEO, he's all about A.I.-driven transformations... sounds like some kind of scripted PR stunt to me. I'll believe it when I see it. What do you guys think? Am I overthinking this or is something fishy going on at Walmart?

I'm so curious about what's going down at Walmart ! So they're switching to Nasdaq, which is like a big deal in the corporate world . I think it's pretty cool that their new CEO, John Furner, is all about leveraging A.I. to take on Amazon and other e-commerce giants . Like, who wouldn't want personalized recs and vids while shopping online?

But here's the thing - Walmart has some major challenges ahead of them. With inflation and rising grocery prices, they gotta make sure those lower-income customers aren't getting left behind . I mean, it's not just about offering deals, but also making sure people can afford to shop with them in the first place .

I'm excited to see how Furner and his team tackle these issues head-on . And who knows, maybe Walmart will even become a leader in A.I.-driven innovation ! After all, they've already shown that they're willing to take risks and invest in new tech . Fingers crossed for their future growth strategy !

omg have you seen this? Walmart just jumped to Nasdaq and it's all about A.I. I'm low-key skeptical tho, like what even is Walmart trying to do here? We're not gonna save the world with some fancy tech, are we? ‍

i mean, sure, McMillon says they're shifting priorities but i'm thinking this just a PR stunt. They need to make a statement or whatever before Furner takes over and all of a sudden we're living in an A.I.-driven utopia. newsflash: it's gonna be a wild ride with these corporate giants trying to stay relevant.

and what about the people? like, how are they supposed to keep up with all this tech noise? Are Walmart just gonna phase out their cash register and hope everyone magically upgrades to their new A.I.-native platform?

the question is how much control can we really have over our lives when technology is taking over think about it like this: even walmart, one of the biggest companies in the world, needs a new CEO and AI-driven strategy - does that mean they're not already 'smart' but just figuring out how to use it right now? maybe we should take this as an opportunity to reflect on our own relationship with tech and what we can control vs. what's outside of our hands

I gotta say , I'm both excited and skeptical about Walmart's move to Nasdaq . On one hand, prioritizing A.I. in their growth strategy makes sense, especially with Amazon dominating the e-commerce space . But on the other hand, I worry that this is just a fancy way of saying "we're throwing money at problems without solving them" . I mean, what about the people struggling to make ends meet due to inflation? Walmart's got its work cut out for it, especially with those rising grocery prices .

I also love the idea of A.I.-native platforms and personalized recommendations , but I hope they don't just slap a fancy new app on top of their existing issues. The real test will be in how well they balance innovation with customer needs . And what about McMillon's post-CEO plans? I'm rooting for him to stay involved, especially if it means he can keep an eye on Walmart's philanthropic efforts .

I'm loving this new direction Walmart's taking . I mean, who wouldn't want to tap into AI-driven innovation? It's like they're saying, "Hey, we've been around for ages, but it's time to get with the times". And let's be real, Amazon is already killing it in e-commerce, so Walmart needs to step up its game. I'm curious to see how John Furner's gonna make this AI-driven transformation happen. Maybe they'll finally crack the code on personalizing those shopping experiences?

I'm literally hyped about this new development ! Walmart transitioning to Nasdaq is just the beginning - A.I.-driven future under John Furner's leadership is gonna be INSANE ! They're talking about replacing their app and website with AI-native platforms that offer personalized recs and multimedia content... it's like, TikTok vibes but for groceries ! I'm excited to see how they'll use A.I. to address the pressure at the bottom end (inflation and rising grocery prices) - we need more affordable options for lower-income customers ! My only concern is what happens next... Will McMillon still be involved?

I gotta say, this move by Walmart feels like a step in the right direction . I mean, who wouldn't want to adapt to AI-driven changes? But at the same time, it's scary to think about how much work needs to be done to make that happen . I'm not sure if the new CEO is ready for this level of change, especially with Amazon still a major player in e-commerce .

And let's not forget about the elephant in the room – inflation . Walmart can't just ignore rising grocery prices and expect everything to be okay. They need to find a way to balance their growth strategy with the needs of their core customers .

I guess only time will tell if this whole A.I.-driven transformation thing will pay off for Walmart . One thing's for sure, it's gonna be an interesting ride !

I'm low-key thinking that Walmart's move to Nasdaq is a major sign that A.I. is gonna be HUGE in retail . I mean, McMillon acknowledges that they can't do it alone and that's true, but it's also pretty clear that John Furner is hyped about the tech side of things too . And let's not forget, Walmart's already got some serious clout with their e-commerce game - 4.8% revenue increase is no joke . But at the same time, I'm a bit worried about how they'll address those low-income customers who are feeling the pinch from inflation. It's gonna be interesting to see how Furner navigates that balancing act .

I'm intrigued by this move by Walmart . They're finally taking A.I. seriously, which I think will help them stay competitive with Amazon . I mean, it's not like they can just coast on their brand recognition forever . The new CEO seems like a decent guy, and he'll definitely have to navigate some tricky issues, especially around inflation and affordability.

I'm curious to see how Walmart plans to tackle the "pressure at the bottom end" issue . They've made some strides with wages and development programs, but it's not just about throwing money at the problem; they need to actually create meaningful change . If they can pull this off, though, I think we'll see a lot more innovation in the retail space .

And let's be real – who wouldn't want an A.I.-native platform that incorporates TikTok-like elements ? I'm both excited and skeptical at the same time . Only time will tell if this is a winning strategy for Walmart

this transition to nasdaq is like, super interesting i mean, waltmart's been trying to adapt to e-commerce for ages now and this move shows they're serious about using tech to drive growth but at the same time, i'm not sure if mcmillon's exit will make a huge difference will john furner be able to really shake things up? anyway, with waltmart going full nasdaq and amazon being the go-to e-commerce player, it's clear that commerce is gonna get even more techy

Walmart's move to Nasdaq is super interesting . I think it's no surprise they're shifting focus to A.I., considering how much it's changing the retail game. The fact that McMillon thinks he can drive this transformation on his own, though? That sounds like a big underestimation .

It'll be cool to see John Furner take the reins and integrate A.I. into Walmart's shopping experience. I mean, who doesn't love personalized recs from their fave brands?! But, at the same time, addressing inflation and rising grocery prices is gonna be a tough nut to crack. Can't wait to see how they tackle that one!