Miracle in aisle five.
Amazon on Monday unveiled a brick-and-mortar grocery store that allows patrons to check in using an app, grab their foodstuffs and breeze out the door with a digital receipt — all without the headache of long lines or checkout.
The so-called Amazon Go — located in the company’s hometown of Seattle, Wash., and stocked with grocery staples plus ready-made meal options — is currently in beta testing by Amazon employees, and will open to the public early next year.
The 1,800-square-foot store runs on the same technological framework as self-driving cars, the retail giant explained — “computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning,” per the tech jargon on its website.
Practically speaking, customers can scan their free Amazon Go app upon entering and begin hunting and gathering, with the “Just Walk Out” technology detecting and tracking items as they’re removed or restored to shelves. The items are charged to users’ Amazon accounts after they leave the store.
The self-service, cashier-less store of the future raises obvious questions about jobs. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report earlier this year pegged cashiers as the occupation with the second-highest employment, trailing only retail salespeople.
Plans to expand beyond the Emerald City remained unclear — as did the company’s plan for addressing potential shoplifting.
Amazon Go marks the e-commerce company’s latest foray into the grocery game, which currently includes its AmazonFresh delivery service.
