A common hassle of grocery shopping are the lines. We get on our tip-toes, crane our neck, and search for the line that's moving the fastest. Amazon Go was announced on December 5th, and it totally changes the game. It lets shoppers grab what they need and leave. Just like that. But there's more to it than just a grab-and-go situation.
The concept of Amazon Go is pretty creepy. From the description, it seems like people move around in an ominous silence while cameras and sensory detectors watch your every move. When you enter the store, you scan the Amazon Go app and facial recognition might also be used, according to The Verge. That's some high-tech shit — and it gets better.
Once you're in the store and find a product on the shelf, sensory detectors will know when you pick up an item. Sensors on the inventory shelves know when an item is touched, or even if the weight of the item is changed. So no snacking. Your every move will be detected by cameras and microphones, and what Amazon calls "just walk out technology."
Customers have a "virtual cart" on the app that adds up the products as you pick them up. Once you leave the store, your Amazon account will be automatically charged and if it's not 100% sure exactly what you got, it will confirm with you before charging. It's brilliant, but also creepy.
When I first heard about Amazon Go, a few thoughts popped in my head: Will this eliminate jobs? Who are their food distributors? And wouldn't this make shoplifting easier?
We have the shoplifting question answered. No way you're getting past all of that technology. But it's the job situation that bothers me. Although this store is in beta testing in Seattle, if it grew to something bigger, it could potentially eliminate jobs for thousands of Americans. But then I got to thinking, someone has to stock the shelves, right?
And that gets me to my next question, who are the food distributors? From the advertisement it looks pretty generic (although I noticed there's no Heinz ketchup on the shelf and that brand is my shit). Amazon says the shelves are stocked with "brands we love." But what if I don't like your brands? The store offers ready-to-eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks that are made from Amazon's on-site chefs or local kitchens. I didn't even know Amazon had chefs...
I'm not quite sure how I feel about Amazon Go. I'm intrigued, worried, and skeptical, all at the same time. I know I have nothing to worry about right now. The beta testing is only for Amazon employees to give feedback on how it works. It will open to the public in 2017. Is this the future of retail? Because personally, I like human interaction.
The video is pretty interesting. The guy in the first scene who walks in and grabs something from the shelf without looking at other options clearly has his shit together. It also mentions incorporating Artificial Intelligence into the store. For now, I'll be more appreciative of the employees at my local grocery store. They deserve it.