Albertsons Expands OpenAI Partnership With Enterprise Integration and Safeway ChatGPT Plugin
Albertsons Companies has expanded its enterprise partnership with OpenAI, introducing a Safeway-branded shopping plugin for ChatGPT as part of its ongoing push into AI-driven e-commerce. OpenAI detailed the collaboration in an Oct. 1 blog post, stating that Albertsons teams are utilizing ChatGPT to accelerate workflows and move promising digital ideas into production more efficiently.
Ranked No. 17 in Digital Commerce 360’s Top 1000 Database of North American online retailers, Albertsons operates more than 2,200 stores across banners that include Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, ACME, and Tom Thumb. The grocer also holds a spot at No. 736 in Digital Commerce 360’s AI Commerce Rankings.
Albertsons Integrates ChatGPT Enterprise for Operational and Customer Tools
The expanded agreement brings ChatGPT Enterprise directly into Albertsons’ operational ecosystem. Alongside internal workplace tools, the partnership integrates custom AI-powered customer experiences, data-driven recommendations, and promotional insights built directly on the OpenAI API.
Jill Pavlovich, senior vice president, digital customer experience at Albertsons Companies, noted the strategy behind the consumer-facing rollout during its August launch. “Research tells us that consumers are increasingly interested in using AI to help with grocery shopping,” Pavlovich said. “By enabling our plugin in ChatGPT, we are making grocery shopping as simple as having a conversation by meeting our customers when and how they choose to shop.”
The Safeway plugin operates entirely within the ChatGPT application. Once a shopper links their Safeway account to the chat interface, they can build grocery lists and complete purchases through a conversational text layout.
Albertsons Builds on History of Retail AI Pilots
Albertsons has a documented history of early AI adoption in retail technology. The grocery chain participated in a pilot program testing ChatGPT’s ads alongside Target and Williams-Sonoma.
Beyond its work with OpenAI, Albertsons has collaborated with Google on an AI assistant experience. In 2025, the company became the first retailer to implement Google Cloud’s conversational AI solution.
OpenAI projects that Albertsons will continue using its large language models to build internal predictive models, generate operational insights, and power upcoming advertising features across its digital network.
More on Albertsons Companies
Worth a look