Microsoft is Working on Technology That Would Eliminate Cashiers and Checkout Lines From Stores, Says Report (reuters.com)

Microsoft is working on technology that would eliminate cashiers and checkout lines from stores, in a nascent challenge to Amazon.com's automated grocery shop, Reuters reported, citing six people familiar with the matter. From the report: The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant is developing systems that track what shoppers add to their carts, the people say. Microsoft has shown sample technology to retailers from around the world and has had talks with Walmart about a potential collaboration, three of the people said. Microsoft's technology aims to help retailers keep pace with Amazon Go, a highly automated store that opened to the public in Seattle in January. Amazon customers scan their smartphones at a turnstile to enter. Cameras and sensors identify what they remove from the shelves. When customers are finished shopping, they simply leave the store and Amazon bills their credit cards on file. Amazon Go, which will soon open in Chicago and San Francisco, has sent rivals scrambling to prepare for yet another disruption by the world's biggest online retailer. Some have tested programs where customers scan and bag each item as they shop, with mixed results.

Comments

Microsoft Is NOT Getting My Shopping Data

[dryriver]

I don't know who Microsoft think they are. First the murky telemetry in Windows 10 that cannot be switched off. Then Microsoft Office becomes a cloud only tool. Next, Microsoft's CEO is pushing all sorts of "YOU OWN NOTHING" cloud crap - your games, apps, software all go cloud-only. And now I go to a bricks-and-mortar store and Microshaft of all companies tracks what I'm putting in my shopping cart? F you, Microsoft. Privacy invaders. Data thieves. Conscience free arm-twisters. Cleptomaniacs. I am not shopping at ANY store that has the Microsoft system in it.

Re:Microsoft Is NOT Getting My Shopping Data

[DogDude]

Microsoft is not in the business of data mining. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, all ISP's, and all credit card companies are. You don't know what you're talking about.

Re:Microsoft Is NOT Getting My Shopping Data

[XxtraLarGe]

Microsoft is not in the business of data mining. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, all ISP's, and all credit card companies are. You don't know what you're talking about.

So all those ads they have on Bing are just served up at random? Pro-Tip: Everyone is data mining.

Greed doing what Greed does best.

[geekmux]

Cashiers rank among the top jobs in the US by numbers employed. Is Microsoft also working on technology that will eliminate the problems they're planning on creating when they make millions of jobs obsolete? Not to mention the fact that a lot of consumer spending and business revenue depends on millions of people being employable.

Once again, Greed is doing what Greed does best; doing whatever it takes to create revenue quickly without giving two shits about any long term impact.

Re: And cash is handled... how?

[cayenne8]

Maybe the stores will just refuse to accept cash? It's becoming more common.

Well, that would not seem wise, to be voluntarily shutting yourself off from a large amount of potential business, just to not take cash.

And hey, not everyone has a smartphone, you know?

Not everyone has a credit card...

I myself prefer to use cash, I take out my weekly amounts I plan to spend on normal expenses (food, etc)....and like to do this so that I have a very good idea on my spending for the week. Credit Cards abstract you from your money much like casino chips do and makes it easy to overspend or buy crap you really don't need.

I have plenty of credit...I could use, but I also would rather buy with cash and not have my purchases associated with my identity as much as possible.

I"m certainly not alone with wanting to use cash for one of any number of valid reasons, and I can't imagine a business wanting to bar itself from a large amount of potential revenue.

Re: And cash is handled... how?

[ArhcAngel]

You are a minority. And one banks and government would like to eradicate. There has been a concerted effort for the last 20 years if not longer to eliminate physical cash. If you search "war on cash" you'll find an abundance of articles over the years on it. There are numerous reasons for this. First, the government wants to know your every move and tracking your spending is one of the easiest ways to do this. They say it's to root out illicit activity but who's to say HOW they actually use it? Second, if you have physical cash you don't need a bank. You can transact directly with anyone without a bank getting a percentage of the transaction like they do when you use a credit/debit card. It's also why banks and governments are fighting blockchain currency tooth and nail as it is digital but it removes the two reasons they wanted to go digital in the first place.