Walmart and Rigetti Expand Quantum–AI Inventory System to 48 U.S. Mega Centers

Walmart has taken its logistics operations further into the future by deploying a hybrid quantum–AI platform across 48 of its largest North American distribution centers. This system—developed alongside Rigetti Computing and MIT-founded analytics firm QAnalytica—uses gate-model quantum processors to optimize inventory placement, order routing, and labor deployment in near real time.

The logistics challenge Walmart faces is staggering: managing millions of SKUs across hundreds of facilities, each with its own micro-demand patterns and replenishment constraints. Classical optimization methods often require hours or even days to run through all the permutations needed for efficient inventory allocation.

According to the company, the new quantum-enhanced system has already reduced per-unit fulfillment costs by 18% and shaved nearly 26 hours off the weekly delivery cycle for fast-moving items. What was once computed overnight is now resolved in minutes thanks to quantum processing.

At the core of the system is a dynamic supply chain graph that evaluates over 9.2 million product–SKU combinations daily. Data is fed from IoT sensors, RFID systems, and localized demand signals. QAnalytica’s predictive engine—funded by NSF and DoD grants—adaptively learns fluctuations in demand, supplier lead times, and inventory availability. Quantum workloads are handled by Rigetti’s Aspen-M-series trapped-ion systems, while classical AI narrows down solution subsets before passing tougher combinatorial problems to quantum routines.

At the National Retail Federation Innovation Summit, Walmart CTO Cheryl Jeffords explained that tasks once needing nine hours of computation via classical methods are now accomplished in under 12 minutes with superior accuracy.

Walmart plans to extend this hybrid quantum–AI platform to 120 mega-centers worldwide by mid-2026, including facilities in Mexico, India, and the U.K., signaling a major shift in how global retail logistics are managed.

Industry insiders expect this rollout to intensify a budding "quantum arms race" among major retailers like Amazon, Alibaba, and Target. While full quantum advantage across supply chain optimization still lies ahead, hybrid systems—like Walmart’s—are providing tangible ROI today.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon summed up the move succinctly: “We’re not betting on the future—we’re building it.”