5 replies to this topic

[Mark Carver]

Stores of the future?

 

 

http://fortune.com/2...heet-amazon-go/

[Mackus]

Pretty neat.  Seems like the idealized version of self-checkout.  And seems like this could work at many types of retail stores, not just grocery.

 

The article says its staffed by robots and sensors instead of humans, but the video doesn't show any of that (besides the sensors able to detect what you have purchased when you take it off the shelf and walk out).  Is any of the stocking, food prep, or other jobs at all grocery or convenience stores done autonomously (besides checkout)?

[JeremyStrain]

Pretty neat.  Seems like the idealized version of self-checkout.  And seems like this could work at many types of retail stores, not just grocery.

 

The article says its staffed by robots and sensors instead of humans, but the video doesn't show any of that (besides the sensors able to detect what you have purchased when you take it off the shelf and walk out).  Is any of the stocking, food prep, or other jobs at all grocery or convenience stores done autonomously (besides checkout)?

 

It's misleading from what I could tell yesterday. There will be plenty of people, just not to check out with. Each store is supposed to have chefs on hand to prepare fresh food and meals, plus people to stock and stuff like you said.

 

I get the impression that this is supposed to be a cross between 7-11 and Wegmans with automated checkouts. Interesting theory.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I'll have to try and get up there to check it out.

 

I think until AI gets really good, you are always going to need a certain amount of humans to staff places like this and interact with customers. They will just be performing different tasks than what you think of in a traditional grocery store.

[Mike in STL]

We're getting way too advanced for our own good. Have we learned nothing from The Terminator movies?

Kidding....kind of. Saw recently that Stephen Hawking expects human exisitance on earth to be wiped out in under 1000 years because of basically, "the terminator" type lifestyle we are getting to. Plugged in, connected, all the time. AIs become self aware, etc...

[DJ MC]

I'll have to try and get up there to check it out.

 

I think until AI gets really good, you are always going to need a certain amount of humans to staff places like this and interact with customers. They will just be performing different tasks than what you think of in a traditional grocery store.

 

Right. There will still be butchers, bakers, deli staff, florists, produce staff, etc.