The yardstick of retail success is becoming who can best deliver anticipatory and frictionless commerce, not in isolated channels but as orchestrated services. Amazon and Walmart are at the forefront of this push. Amazon is increasingly betting on a future where artificial intelligence intermediates nearly every business transaction, from ordering pens to acquiring fleets. Walmart has come to envision a future where its scale, stores and logistics form the backbone of a more open marketplace that lures sellers with reach and reliability. Amazon Business is becoming a proving ground for Amazon’s AI ambitions. Intelligent agents, or software capable of making decisions and handling transactions, are being deployed to go beyond search-based shopping. These AI systems can anticipate needs, compare supplier contracts and trigger purchases autonomously. For corporate customers, the promise is efficiency; for Amazon, it’s lock-in. If Amazon is positioning itself as the AI-driven enterprise backbone, Walmart is reshaping its physical and digital assets to woo third-party sellers. Long cautious about opening its shelves to outside vendors, Walmart is now experimenting with ways to showcase marketplace sellers directly in stores, piloting physical displays that feature products from its online marketplace partners, blending the digital long tail with the tactile credibility of Walmart’s aisles. While Amazon invests in AI agents and vertical experiments, Walmart is focused on removing friction for sellers and buyers in immediate, tangible ways. Faster delivery, more payment flexibility and in-store visibility all reinforce Walmart’s pitch to help merchants reach millions of shoppers on- and offline. Walmart is also positioning itself as a platform, not just a retailer. Amazon built its marketplace dominance by aggregating third-party sellers and monetizing them through fees, fulfillment services and advertising. Walmart, late to the game, now sees marketplace expansion as the fastest path to digital scale. By using its 4,600 stores as fulfillment nodes and marketing channels, Walmart can offer a hybrid model where third-party sellers benefit from eCommerce reach and brick-and-mortar presence.