Walmart's Code Puppy creator departs for AI startup Pydantic
Michael Pfaffenberger, the engineer behind Walmart's internal AI coding tool Code Puppy, is leaving the retailer to join AI startup Pydantic.
Distinguished engineer Michael Pfaffenberger disclosed that he will leave Walmart to work at AI startup Pydantic, a month after growing the internal Code Puppy platform to nearly 75,000 users. Code Puppy, which leverages the Pydantic AI library, enables users across merchandising, supply chain and store operations to write, test and manage software via plain-language commands. Walmart's chief technology officer Suresh Kumar highlighted the tool's role in democratizing technology for both engineers and hourly staff.
The retailer confirmed Pfaffenberger's resignation and expressed gratitude, noting that his colleagues will continue supporting the system. The announcement arrives during a quiet period before Walmart's earnings report on August 20. Pydantic's CTO David Montague praised Pfaffenberger's experience in building multi-agent AI solutions for large enterprises.
Why it matters
The move underscores talent shifts in AI and shows how major retailers are building and sustaining internal AI tools.
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