Amazon’s AI-powered ‘Just Walk Out’ technology used over 1,000 Indians: Report

Amazon has taken a decision to remove its checkout technology, 'Just Walk Out,' from its Amazon Fresh Stores. Introduced in 2016, the technology allowed customers to shop for the items they needed and leave stores without going through the checkout process. The bills were later sent to them.

Amazon claimed that sensors and cameras were used to identify what customers had taken off the shelf. However, it has emerged that the e-commerce giant relied on humans instead of pure deep learning tools and AI.

According to a report in The Information, more than 1,000 people in India were used to watch and label videos to ensure that Just Walk Out checkouts were accurate.

Of the 1,000 sales through Just Walk Out, 700 needed human intervention. The process was also time-consuming as remote workers in India took hours to collect the data so that customers could get their receipts.

Amazon had claimed that Just Walk Out technology used "a combination of tools and technologies to determine who took what from the store. When a consumer takes something off the shelf, it's added to their virtual cart. When the consumer puts the item back on shelf, it comes out of the virtual cart. After they leave the store, they are charged for the items they left the store with".

Just Walk Out to be replaced with Dash Carts

Meanwhile, the e-commerce giant will be replacing Just Walk Out technology with Dash Carts. It features inbuilt scanners and a screen on the shopping, allowing customers to check out as they shop.

Customers can also self-checkout or check out with a cashier.

Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, faces stiff competition from Walmart, Kroger and Costco in the grocery business section. The company's decision to ditch Just Walk Out shows that it is looking for cost-effective ways to compete with other grocery chains.