As the rest of us wait in checkout lines during our Sunday evening grocery shopping, folks in Seattle eagerly await tomorrow’s public opening of the first store to eliminate the need for cashiers. The much-anticipated Amazon Go grocery store will open its doors to the public on Monday, January 22nd. The AI-powered shop encountered several challenges along the way to completion which delayed its launch by almost a year. After working through the kinks and successfully testing the store’s technology among reviewers and employees, it seems as though Amazon is finally ready to serve the masses with its automated storefront.
How does it work?
Before entering the Amazon Go store, a shopper must download the free Amazon app and link it to their Amazon shopping account. The app launched today and is available for iPhone and Android devices. Once a shopper has the app, they can use their mobile device to check-in using a QR code at the storefront before entering the sales floor. Checking in using the app allows the store’s AI to track the items a shopper picks up. When their shopping is complete, a customer can simply walk out of the store and the total value of their purchases will be charged to their Amazon account.
Although the company has kept the inner workings of the sophisticated AI software under wraps, Amazon Go’s vice president of technology, Dilip Kumar, provided Fast Company with a general explanation of how it works. Kumar says, “You use machine learning and use computer vision in a way that makes this experience completely seamless. We have spent a lot of time figuring out how to make our algorithms and our sensors reliable, highly available, and very efficient so that you get things right and we’re very accurate.”
Despite Amazon’s attempts to veil the presence of the store’s consumer-tracking AI, those who participated in the testing and reviewing processes say the ceiling full of black cameras offers a not-so-subtle reminder of the technology running behind the scenes.
What can you buy?
The goal of Amazon Go is to provide fast, fresh, and affordable food for busy shoppers. The company hopes to help consumers move away from processed and frozen goods when they’re in a time crunch. This is why the current selection of items for purchase is limited relative to what you’d find in a standard grocery store. For example, you’ll find staples like bread and milk in Amazon’s storefront, but not a full bakery or dairy aisle.
Convenience lies at the core of Amazon Go, but not in the traditional form you’d expect from a gas station or a corner store. Go shoppers can browse a variety of ready-made meals and Amazon Meal Kits to take home everything they need to enjoy quality, chef-prepped food in 30 minutes or less.
What’s next?
The launch of the first Go store represents the beginning of Amazon’s first round of consumer testing. As of now, the retailer has no plans to expand the technology into Whole Foods stores. In an interview with Reuters, Gianna Peurini, vice president of Amazon Go, said “we’d love to open more,” but Amazon has yet to announce additional locations.
It seems fitting that the Seattle-based company would launch its first automated grocery store in its hometown. If all goes well, it’s safe to assume there will be more locations to come. The question at that point is: Which city will be next to move into the future of automated grocery shopping?
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