Key Takeaways
- Amazon is abandoning its cashier-less "Just Walk Out" technology at Amazon Fresh stores due to ongoing technical issues.
- Initially, the technology was meant to allow customers to grab items and leave the store without a checkout process.
- The "AI" checkout system turned out to be manned by over 1,000 human video reviewers in India, highlighting the limitations of the AI-powered technology.
- Amazon plans to replace the system with shopping carts featuring built-in checkout screens and scanners for a more customer-friendly experience.
- The decision to move on from the AI-powered system came after facing challenges in reducing the reliance on human reviews and enhancing the overall customer shopping experience.
News Content
Amazon is discontinuing their cashier-less "Just Walk Out" technology in its Fresh grocery stores. The high-tech system, meant to allow customers to grab items and leave without checking out, was powered by AI video surveillance. However, the reality was different - the technology never functioned as intended. Reports revealed that over 1,000 human video reviewers in India were manually reviewing transactions and labeling images to train the AI model. Despite years of development, Amazon's system still required an unsustainable 700 human reviews per 1,000 sales, missing internal targets. As a result of these challenges, Amazon will be transitioning to a more practical cashier-less format using shopping carts with built-in checkout screens and scanners, branded as Amazon Dash Cart.
This transition follows continued technical difficulties with the Just Walk Out system, which was originally deployed in Amazon Go stores, Amazon Fresh grocery stores, and Whole Foods stores, as well as at third-party outlets including sports stadiums, airports, and a university. Amazon's move to the cashier-less format with Amazon Dash Cart aims to offer customers a better shopping experience, combining convenience, selection, and value. The new technology allows customers to easily find nearby products and deals, view their receipt as they shop, and keep track of their purchases. Additionally, it removes the need for a large number of store employees to maintain shelves, making for a more efficient and user-friendly shopping experience.
Analysis
Amazon's decision to discontinue the cashier-less "Just Walk Out" technology was influenced by the inefficient functioning of the AI-powered system, requiring extensive human intervention. The short-term consequence is the transition to a more practical cashier-less format, the Amazon Dash Cart, enhancing the shopping experience. Long-term, the move could impact AI technology deployment strategies. Amazon's shift aims to provide a more efficient and user-friendly shopping experience, combining convenience and value. Future developments may focus on refining AI solutions for seamless cashier-less experiences and streamlining operational efficiency.
Do You Know?
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AI Video Surveillance in Cashier-less Technology: The cashier-less "Just Walk Out" technology utilized AI video surveillance to allow customers to grab items and leave without the need to check out. However, reports revealed that over 1,000 human video reviewers in India were manually reviewing transactions and labeling images to train the AI model, showing the complexity and manual involvement behind the high-tech system.
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Transition to Amazon Dash Cart: Amazon's move from the problematic Just Walk Out system to the Amazon Dash Cart involves the utilization of shopping carts with built-in checkout screens and scanners, providing a more practical and sustainable cashier-less format. This transition aims to enhance the shopping experience for customers by enabling them to easily find nearby products, view receipts as they shop, and track their purchases without the need for a large number of store employees to maintain shelves.
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Technical Difficulties and Expansion: Despite initially deploying the Just Walk Out system in various locations such as Amazon Go stores, Amazon Fresh grocery stores, Whole Foods stores, sports stadiums, airports, and a university, Amazon faced continued technical difficulties with the system. This ultimately led to the decision to transition to the more efficient Amazon Dash Cart technology, providing a better shopping experience for customers.