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Introducing Amazon Go and the world’s most advanced shopping technology

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Totakeke

Member
Not everyone has options and work is work. Just because someone is desperate enouph to put up with it doesn't mean we should let them off the hook.

Exactly, which is why it's good that Amazon is working to automate and eliminate jobs so people don't have to suffer.

I mean, I see your complaints but I'm not sure what raising it in this thread will do.
 

someday

Banned
I don't know what problem this is trying to solve. Are people seriously that busy that they forgo grocery shopping because of the inconvenience of having to check out?

This is what I was wondering myself. I just don't see the big deal for me as a consumer. I'd prefer a service that allowed me to order food and have it delivered immediately...something that already mostly exists. I guess it would be better if I could order broccoli and raw chicken and have that delivered but even that isn't so far off from something that already exists.
 

TheSeks

Blinded by the luminous glory that is David Bowie's physical manifestation.
I don't want to stop this.

I want the world to get over this idea that everyone must work for a living to bring value to their lives.

I'd rather move head on into the society where people don't have to work to live vs crawling and snatching at every turn trying to hold onto the old ways of needing jobs.

This. The sooner we get folks off jobs and able to live their lives as they want without having to do 40 hour work weeks, the better.

Slay, Amazon, slay.

This is what I was wondering myself. I just don't see the big deal for me as a consumer. I'd prefer a service that allowed me to order food and have it delivered immediately...something that already mostly exists. I guess it would be better if I could order broccoli and raw chicken and have that delivered but even that isn't so far off from something that already exists.

Some folks want to head out and grab what they need. Some would rather wait to have it delivered. It's really an option. Maybe Amazon will have "Delivery Guys" like Pizza places have if they build enough of these "Go" stores around the nation in Urban areas while folks that aren't Urban will have to go to the "Go" store physically to get their stuff instantly.
 

Iadien

Guarantee I'm going to screw up this post? Yeah.
This is pretty fucking cool. Too bad it won't be around my area anytime soon.
 

Chris1

Member
The transition will be easy in the UK from what I've seen. Tesco Express and a few other stores are already heavy on the self checkout with only one or two actual people working registers. Some stores just have a person there to help you with self checkout and that's it. They are heavily used as well and most people have adapted to self checkout.

This is the next step.
Even Tesco has the scan as you shop things in some places now.

But yeah, this is fucking amazing. Hope it comes near me I want to try it out.
 

Totakeke

Member
This is what I was wondering myself. I just don't see the big deal for me as a consumer. I'd prefer a service that allowed me to order food and have it delivered immediately...something that already mostly exists. I guess it would be better if I could order broccoli and raw chicken and have that delivered but even that isn't so far off from something that already exists.

It's not really solving a problem per se, but it's introducing a huge convenience. Given the option to wait five minutes in line to buy a drink vs just going in and taking it, why would I do the former?
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
I don't how "computer vision" would play a role in this--your phone is in your pocket, which I guess would mean they have a camera in the shelf assembly that detects the item and uses your face to know you're the one that took it?
 

TheSeks

Blinded by the luminous glory that is David Bowie's physical manifestation.
I don't how "computer vision" would play a role in this--your phone is in your pocket, which I guess would mean they have a camera in the shelf assembly that detects the item and uses your face to know you're the one that took it?

RFID, I'd take it. I dunno if phones have RFID tech built in, but it would be possible to have RFID chips put into the UPC area where the phone's wifi picks it up and registers it in the software. Similar to how Libraries or some retail stores check-out things now a days but on your phone.

What happens if your cellphone die while in-store, or if you don't have a data plan/your wifi turns off?
'

I guess that's why it's called a "beta/test run," XD?
 
A great idea until the software inevitably fucks up, over/under charges you and you don't have a face-to-face human being to fix it. Or you need to find something in the store/need advice/etc. The theft will be insane.

The main selling point of brick-and-mortar is live customer service, and until there are androids that move past the uncanny valley there will be human beings providing it.

Tunnel scanning is cool though.
 

zewone

Member
What if I just turn my phone off after zapping in?

Or what if I don't even have a phone?

What's to deter shoplifting?
 

KrellRell

Member
Another measure that further removes communication and distribution of wealth. Yay for technology, I'll get to save 2 minutes in line and go home feeling lonely - so cool.
 

Voras

Member
I laughed out loud. This strikes me as a foolproof way to get into debt quickly. Also you will never see this in a low-income area for obvious reasons.




Something I had not thought about. Automation is inevitable. I don't think we should villainize companies for Innovation and Technology. We should be thinking of ways to support those who are unable to adapt.


i disagree if there isn't a cost benefit to consumers. If prices on items are going to be the same as they are without automation why should we support a company that is getting rid of jobs and pocketing the difference? Obviously we need to work on transitioning people into jobs that won't be automated but I don't really see a reason to support automation if the only benefit we receive is minor connivence.
 

Dougald

Member
I don't how "computer vision" would play a role in this--your phone is in your pocket, which I guess would mean they have a camera in the shelf assembly that detects the item and uses your face to know you're the one that took it?


Considering what is shown in the video, they must be using some sort of tracking tech. It'd be nice if they provided some technical info, but from that short marketing video the phone doesn't seem to provide any more utility than say, a membership card with a QR code on it



What if I just turn my phone off after zapping in?

It's already tied to your Amazon account, so you get charged I assume. The video doesn't show anyone tapping out, only tapping in.

Or what if I don't even have a phone?

Then you can't shop there I guess

What's to deter shoplifting?

A shop that can track every single customer and item for sale can detect when someone who hasn't signed in is taking items off a shelf. It's probably considerably harder to shoplift than in a traditional store where you can just shove something in your pocket and walk out past the checkout/buy a single low value item while stealing other things.
 

M52B28

Banned
Neat idea but this is the type of automation that is going to wreck the low to middle income families in the next decade.

Nothing is stopping this train.
This is why universal income is needed. If this leads to more efficient lives, then I am for it.

A company shouldn't stifle its innovative capabilities for the sake of things you have mentioned. I feel like this will allow for the discussion of universal income to be opened up more now that jobs are on the line.
 

Air

Banned
We will be dragged into the future kicking or screaming, but it will happen. Sadly we're not quite prepared for it.
 

Somnid

Member
I don't how "computer vision" would play a role in this--your phone is in your pocket, which I guess would mean they have a camera in the shelf assembly that detects the item and uses your face to know you're the one that took it?

That's what it seems like. The initial scan probably associates your face/body to an Amazon account and it just visually tracks you while you're in the store.
 

mdubs

Banned
Another measure that further removes communication and distribution of wealth. Yay for technology, I'll get to save 2 minutes in line and go home feeling lonely - so cool.

Wait - are you saying that the 2 minutes you spend in the checkout line is the thing keeping you from loneliness right now?
 

NewFresh

Member
I don't how "computer vision" would play a role in this--your phone is in your pocket, which I guess would mean they have a camera in the shelf assembly that detects the item and uses your face to know you're the one that took it?

I was initially thinking that going through some kind of gateway and that every item has an RFID type sticker. Then it would tie your account to the items you took... but this looks much more involved than that.
 

Meier

Member
I went to my local library branch recently and they now had self-check out machines which have some pretty magical technology. You can place a full stack of books on the tray and it will check them all out at once.

stack-vintage-books-10121481.jpg


So in this image above, all 7 books would be checked out at once and essentially instantaneously after you scan your card. I was frankly absolutely floored.
 
Ideally its all supposed to be automated, the vendors the buyers all using the in stocks from stores and buying history to automatically take care of it all. But like you said we are nowhere near that point yet. And thats not even taking into account software fuck ups that will occur.

Yeah we currently Outsource the software from a German company.

We ain't ready here in America
 

NewFresh

Member
Also, Im not sure why people are treating this as an un-staffed store. It's just one without a traditional checkout.
 

Future

Member
I don't know what problem this is trying to solve. Are people seriously that busy that they forgo grocery shopping because of the inconvenience of having to check out?

Really? The worst part of grocery shopping is the check out since you gotta deal with all the mistakes every customer in front of you inevitably makes to slow you down
 

StudioTan

Hold on, friend! I'd love to share with you some swell news about the Windows 8 Metro UI! Wait, where are you going?
There used to be a commercial in Canada probably a decade ago that predicted this kind of thing in the future. I showed a guy stuffing items in his jacket like he was shoplifting and he got stopped on the way out by an employee like he was busted but it was just because he didn't take a receipt.

Can't remember what the ad was for, maybe Interac.

EDIT: I found it, it was for IBM and I was right, looks like it was 10 years ago lol - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eob532iEpqk
 
i disagree if there isn't a cost benefit to consumers. If prices on items are going to be the same as they are without automation why should we support a company that is getting rid of jobs and pocketing the difference? Obviously we need to work on transitioning people into jobs that won't be automated but I don't really see a reason to support automation if the only benefit we receive is minor connivence.

I try to go to the traditional check out as much as possible when I go shopping to justify having an employee there. That's not going to stop more self checkouts from appearing.

Change is inevitable. I don't know what "support" has to do with automation.
 

Zaph

Member
Given the (scarce) information in their FAQ, it seems the entire store is driven by a lot of camera tracking?

So basically this is a giant research project into understanding how people like to shop at brick and mortar retail, masquerading as a store.
 

Ether_Snake

安安安安安安安安安安安安安安安
Stop saying automation should be stopped.

Put pressure on your governments to make it easier for people to learn new trades quickly at no cost, and to limit excessive wealth accumulation.
 

Cosmic Bus

pristine morning snow
Two blocks from my job, huh -- on the most recent mega-campus in the city, unsurprisingly. Will be fun to give this a swing when it's open to the public.
 

Cyneck

Banned
Damn. Spending too much money is already way too easy with credits cards, but this takes it to a whole new level.

From a business standpoint, this is pure genius.
 

samn

Member
Yes, what our society really needs is more friction-free ways to buy stuff without having to think consciously about what it costs.
 

NewFresh

Member
Given the scarce information in their FAQ, it seems the entire store is driven by a lot of camera tracking?

So basically this is a giant research project into understanding how people like to shop at brick and mortar retail, masquerading as a store.

This already happens. Like, How are you enjoying your advantage card? Cameras in stores mapping foot traffic? If anything, this makes the job of tracking data easier, but it isn't new.
 

RetroDLC

Foundations of Burden
I expect stores like this to run some shelf stockists, a technician who can maintain the hardware, and a group of burly security guards to monitor the store doors to stop anyone stealing.
 

Voras

Member
I try to go to the traditional check out as much as possible when I go shopping to justify having an employee there. That's not going to stop more self checkouts from appearing.

Change is inevitable. I don't know what "support" has to do with automation.

Support has everything to do with automation. This store only works if people go to it. If I've got the option of getting something here or at Target where they still have employees I can go to Target instead. I'm not saying that long term that will stop automation but support for this is totally relevant in the short term. I doubt any sort of boycott is actually going to work but I certainly don't see the reason to support a company that is cutting jobs just to pad their own profit margins.
 

Geist-

Member
If you ignore the fact that no one is doing anything to curb the mass unemployment that automation will bring, this is a fantastic idea and I look forward to shopping at one.
 

Razorback

Member
What's the deal with trying to find flaws in the system to shoplift? You realise you can already shoplift very easily at normal stores, and they don't have A.I.'s scanning your face.
 

Totakeke

Member
Support has everything to do with automation. This store only works if people go to it. If I've got the option of getting something here or at Target where they still have employees I can go to Target instead. I'm not saying that long term that will stop automation but support for this is totally relevant in the short term. I doubt any sort of boycott is actually going to work but I certainly don't see the reason to support a company that is cutting jobs just to pad their own profit margins.

They didn't magically bring this into existence out of thin air, how many computer scientists and engineers did they hire to create this store? Would you rather we save the jobs of cashiers and not create any technological innovation?
 

Zaph

Member
This already happens. Like, How are you enjoying your advantage card? Cameras in stores mapping foot traffic? If anything, this makes the job of tracking data easier, but it isn't new.

Of course rudimentary tracking has been happening via auxiliary methods for decades, but I'm saying this is likely the entire point of the store - and not only what you buy, but literally how you do it.

The T&C's on the Go app will make for very interesting reading...
 
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