Queuing up at the grocery store is probably one of the most dreaded things about doing your errands. While companies have come up with self check-out and delivery options for their customers, Amazon Fresh is introducing an entirely automated system with AI technology — but what could this mean for the service industry?
Like something out of Black Mirror, this new concept does away with cashiers as customers are able to just walk out with their items to be paid later on.
All you need is a phone with your Amazon Fresh QR code, and AI technology will do all the work of listing everything in your cart via surveillance cameras. That’s right, you don’t even need to scan every product individually.
Does this sound like the supermarket of the future or a dark dystopian turn?
Given its Black Mirror-esque nature, it’s only expected that people are taking issue with Amazon Fresh stores. Concerns have been raised over data privacy and the ethical use of such complex technology.
Other users have shared that this concept is harmful to the working class as it not only takes away jobs, but it is generally not accessible.
the first oppression is you have to own a smartphone for it to work.
which means you need to buy one. or have a contract that subsidizes one.
in germany e.g. bad credit record prevents some people from getting that.
thats economic oppression, in addition.— Plain Vanilla (@[email protected]) (@PlainVanillaPub) April 8, 2021
The mass collection of human data is terrifying, and I can’t think of any positive outcomes that aren’t fattening some corporations pockets or disparaging certain groups (e.g. Chinas social credit system). I can see why you’re concerned about this being implemented in the US.
— The Ref (@thrdon) April 8, 2021
Amazing how this could be implemented to improve the ease of shopping under socialism, but since it is happening under capitalism all we can think about is how people will be unemployed, wages will stagnate, and unions will be busted. https://t.co/oT0q8VNpi2
— @bodhishevik.bsky.social (@Bodhishevik) April 7, 2021
The company recently came under fire for underpaying their employees and anti-union practices. Instead of addressing their existing problems, Amazon’s social media team was seen citing loopholes to defend themselves.
So pushing through with their Amazon Fresh store rollout is definitely only adding fuel to the fire.
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