https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/sainsburys-ai-security-cabinets-tackle-shoplifting/
Sainsbury's is introducing AI security cabinets in a bid to tackle growing numbers of thefts.
The supposed historic surge in retail theft in the US was proven to be a lie, disproven by actual data. Hard not to wonder if we're seeing the same playbook happening here.
The UK, where we don't trust you not to run off with a trolley, so we make you deposit a pound coin, but then we make you check out and cash up your own shopping.
All this so they don't have to employ people.
It's not that they don't trust any random person not to steal it. Not even to prevent the unhoused from stealing them, if they want a cart a pound is pretty cheap.
It's because they don't want to pay someone to put them back.
Aye, I know, but I was being flippant. All of it is cost cutting. Self checkout was a way of getting rid of staff... More importantly making customers work for free. They just overestimated their ability to police the process.
To be fair, I'm surprised they don't just hand you a brush and a full trolley on the way in to get you to sweep up and restock the shelves.
Our local sainsbury now has an exit barrier that you have to open by scanning your receipt.
Asides from being a waste of paper, it totally makes you feel like a criminal. It's not a feeling I enjoy.
Yeh this is what I do. I tend to buy things as cheaply as I can and that does mean I leave stores empty handed because next door is cheaper
It's not a border patrol style 4m tall metal gate. It's something you push open in case of fire.
They look like one of these. Meant to deter, not block.
Those are very common in the Dutch supermarkets. There are no dumb weighing systems though, so if you scan on the go you can pack it while shopping.
The Albert Heijn uses an optional loyalty card that can be used to exit without a receipt (just scan the same loyalty card).
Kaufland in Germany does the same. We're all criminals. Australia is coming next.
Want me to do the job you're not paying someone to do, but don't trust me to do that job you're not paying someone to do.
Lets also be real, if your a person struggling to make ends meet and feed yourself and family I sympathise. If your a 15yo who wants to get drunk in a park and is going to shoplift to make it happen, I dont give a fuck.
Maybe don't expect everyone to pay the same price for items, but according to each needs.
So I think it's fair to say that "AI" is officially the new "Blockchain." If you put it in your name people will automatically think that it is some kind of techno-wizardry that makes everything work better. And then they'll give you lots of money.