Amazon announces the latest updates to its use of AI technology

In the last few years, Amazon, like other online retailers, has been experimenting with the use of AI technology to create a smoother shopping experience for consumers. 

Among the latest updates to this, the company has announced that it will soon stop using the ‘Just Walk Out” technology which it currently relies on in Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores. 

This AI-driven system previously enabled shoppers to navigate the store, fill their carts, and exit without waiting in a checkout line, and receiving an electronic bill afterwards. However, the company has now announced its intention to overhaul the stores and discontinue its use. 

While Amazon will carry on using  Just Walk Out technology in stores in the U.K. and in various third-party retail settings such as hospitals, airports, stadiums, and theme parks, it is shifting its focus to prioritise AI-powered shopping carts known as Dash Carts. 

These carts feature a digital touch screen, allowing shoppers to log into their Amazon accounts directly from the screen. Shoppers can select items from the aisles, scan them using the Dash Cart’s screen, and proceed without interruption. 

Additionally, the Dash Cart includes a built-in scale for weighing items sold by weight, providing a running total of expenditures as shoppers traverse the store.

This technology is currently operational in two dozen stores across 13 states, including Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, McKeever’s Markets, and Price Chopper.

In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson noted: “We’ve invested a lot of time redesigning a number of our Amazon Fresh stores over the last year, offering a better overall shopping experience with more value, convenience and selection – and so far we’ve seen positive results, with higher customer shopping satisfaction scores and increased purchasing. 

We’ve also heard from customers that while they enjoyed the benefit of skipping the checkout line with Just Walk Out, they also wanted the ability to easily find nearby products and deals, view their receipts as they shop, and know how much money they saved while shopping through the store.”