John Furner

Michael Pfaffenberger, creator of Walmart's internal AI coding tool Code Puppy, is leaving the company to join AI startup Pydantic. Code Puppy, which uses natural-language instructions to help employees build software tools, has over 75,000 users across Walmart, including non-engineers and hourly workers. Walmart confirmed his departure and stated the tool will continue to be supported.

Warren Buffett, Tim Cook, Bob Iger, and Doug McMillon are stepping down as CEOs of Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, Disney, and Walmart. Their successors—Greg Abel, John Ternus, John Furner, and Josh D'Amaro—are described as detail-oriented leaders who focus on operational execution rather than high-profile strategies.

Walmart acquired Vibe.co, a French ad-tech firm, for $1.4 billion to compete with Amazon’s advertising business. The deal aims to expand Walmart’s digital-advertising capabilities, particularly for small and medium advertisers, and follows its 2024 acquisition of connected-TV maker Vizio. Walmart’s CEO John Furner is prioritizing growth in non-retail businesses like advertising to challenge Amazon’s market dominance.

Walmart is integrating AI across its operations to enhance speed and personalization, providing AI tools to employees at all levels. The company's Code Puppy agent enables non-tech workers to develop AI solutions, while a shareholder proposal criticizing AI's impact on workers was rejected.

Two top Walmart executives, Tom Ward and Cedric Clark, are leaving the company under new CEO John Furner. Ward is retiring as the chief operating officer of Sam's Club, while Clark is departing from his role as executive vice president of store operations.