Newsletter 
It looks like cashierless technology by Amazon Go may come to Whole Foods by the start of next year as reported by The New York Post. Amazon began introducing this tech in 2016 but now it looks like it may come to fruition.
Amazon Go has made big promises over the years with its business model. Back in 2018, it claimed 3000 stores would open by 2021. More recently, Amazon has promised to offer podcasts on two of its services.
Cashierless tech currently operates in its Go convenience stores. However, this would be a new venture into a different company marking an expansion for Amazon Go.
Cashierless technology may come to Whole Foods
The possibility of cashierless technology by Amazon Go coming to whole foods is an interesting one. As reported by The Verge, this technology uses cameras, sensors, and computer vision. It allows customers to walk out of the store with groceries in hand and avoid long checkout lines.
The original report suggests that this will be the final project for Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon’s worldwide consumer division. He will retire next year so this looks like his final hurrah before he hangs up his boots.
Amazon first acquired Whole Foods in 2017 wondered if this technology would be integrated. It has taken a while but it looks like this has finally begun to occur.
Amazon to replace jobs with cashierless technology
The model is a nice one and is a very convenient innovation for many. However, this new technology is very likely to replace jobs with machines.
When Amazon announced that it would sell this technology to retailers the United Food and Commercial Workers Union criticized the tech giant. It was worried about the prospect of workers losing their jobs to automation.
In a statement, it said this was a “direct threat to 16 million American retail jobs and is part of a ruthless strategy to eliminate as many good jobs as possible.”
Thus far Amazon has declined to comment on the rumors. However, this story does seem to add up given Amazon’s desire to sell this tech and its links to Whole Foods.
However, pressure from unions about automation and getting rid of jobs could be a stumbling block. This sort of automated technology is likely to be the future in many places in society.
However, how quickly this sort of technology moves through society will be interesting. Much will have to do with society’s views and receptiveness of this technology which in places could be very hostile.