From Camera to Cashier: The End of Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ Technology

The high-tech “Just Walk Out” technology used by Amazon in its Fresh grocery stores across the United States is being discontinued due to several issues with the self-checkout system. Despite its advanced features, which utilized cameras, sensors, and human monitoring to enable customers to shop without interacting with a cashier, the system faced significant challenges.

One of these challenges was the requirement for over 1,000 people in India to scan camera feeds and ensure that customers were accurately checking out. Additionally, legal concerns emerged, with a class action suit in New York accusing Amazon of collecting biometric identifier information without proper disclosure to consumers. This violation of the state’s Biometric Identifier Information Law necessitated a reevaluation of the technology and its implementation in stores.

In light of these challenges, Amazon has decided to remove the “Just Walk Out” technology from its Fresh grocery stores, which were only available in half of the total Amazon Fresh locations in the US. This decision indicates that a more traditional approach to checkout may be necessary for the time being.