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Inside Amazon Go

nytimes.com

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Re: Inside Amazon Go

#11

Post by pavel_lishin »

aviv wrote: post #6
phillipcarter wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The latter point isn't an innovation. My local grocery store (not a big franchise) doesn't sell nasty snacks, either. They've been in business a lot longer than Amazon.

The innovation part is how this Go store has the power to bring healthy snacks into general convenience stores and gas stations and getting the disease causing ones to be pushed out.

Why are you patting Amazon so hard on the back over this hypothesis? The article didn't mention anything about it; Walmart, Target, 7-11 all have the exact same power, but don't exercise it. Why do you think Amazon Go will push healthy snacks over deep-fried candybars?

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#12

Post by dawhizkid »

Anyone in NYC who regularly shops at Trader Joes or Whole Foods knows how badly this is needed. There are literally two employees at Trader Joes whose job it is to hold a sign that says "End of Line" because the line is always almost out the door on weekends and weekday evenings.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#13

Post by ceejayoz »

symlinkk wrote: post #8
eloff wrote: post #2

No shopping carts? Maybe for a convenience store that's ok. I shop at Costco without a car, and I bring two large carry bags. But I don't carry them around inside the store unless I'm just buying one or two things. I buy a lot of heavy things (oh god those watermelons, never again.) And I don't want my arms getting tired in the store. It's bad enough for the 1.5km I have to walk back to my place.

For the first time in history we have a grocery store without cashiers, and you’re nitpicking that there’s no shopping carts?

Why should something new be immune from constructive criticism?

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#14

Post by pavel_lishin »

chiefofgxbxl wrote: post #7

Given Amazon's knowledge in warehouse operations and supply chain, I wouldn't guess they plan to use this technology widespread in grocery stores. At that point, they could take a simpler approach than all the cameras and computer vision, by instead treating a grocery store like a warehouse or vending machine (no human shoppers like other grocers today who offer delivery). People enter their orders online, and stop b…

That will probably be an option, but I'd wager that a lot of purchases are snap decisions. You want hungry people in your store, looking at all your attractively packaged food.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#15

Post by dEnigma »

symlinkk wrote: post #8
eloff wrote: post #2

No shopping carts? Maybe for a convenience store that's ok. I shop at Costco without a car, and I bring two large carry bags. But I don't carry them around inside the store unless I'm just buying one or two things. I buy a lot of heavy things (oh god those watermelons, never again.) And I don't want my arms getting tired in the store. It's bad enough for the 1.5km I have to walk back to my place.

For the first time in history we have a grocery store without cashiers, and you’re nitpicking that there’s no shopping carts?

What does one thing have to do with the other? Shopping carts are useful even without cashiers.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#16

Post by Guest9812398 »

makomk wrote: post #5

"Amazon won’t say much about how the system works, other than to say it involves sophisticated computer vision and machine learning software." Why do I have the feeling this probably actually translates to humans staring at video feeds a lot of the time?

I imagine it's similar to the below video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeS8TJwBAFs

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#17

Post by aviv »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #11
aviv wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The innovation part is how this Go store has the power to bring healthy snacks into general convenience stores and gas stations and getting the disease causing ones to be pushed out.

Why are you patting Amazon so hard on the back over this hypothesis? The article didn't mention anything about it; Walmart, Target, 7-11 all have the exact same power, but don't exercise it. Why do you think Amazon Go will push healthy snacks over deep-fried candybars?

Whole foods. Amazon is going upmarket, not down.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#18

Post by phillipcarter »

aviv wrote: post #6
phillipcarter wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The latter point isn't an innovation. My local grocery store (not a big franchise) doesn't sell nasty snacks, either. They've been in business a lot longer than Amazon.

The innovation part is how this Go store has the power to bring healthy snacks into general convenience stores and gas stations and getting the disease causing ones to be pushed out.

Huh? Amazon Go is a separate store from these places. There is nothing mentioned about how they're licensing their technology out to other vendors. And it's not innovating by offering healthier options for grab 'n go food and snacks. I don't see your point here.

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#19

Post by panarky »

There were a little over 3.5 million cashiers in the United States in 2016 — and some of their jobs may be in jeopardy if the technology behind Amazon Go eventually spreads.

Why is this the knee-jerk response to technological progress?

True progress isn't forcing millions of people into low-wage routine work. True progress would emancipate people from this drudgery entirely.

Isaac Asimov questioned why the goal of both the left and the right is always "full employment":

"The goal of the future should be full unemployment, so we can play. That’s why we have to destroy the present politico-economic system."

Re: Inside Amazon Go

#20

Post by pavel_lishin »

dawhizkid wrote: post #12

Anyone in NYC who regularly shops at Trader Joes or Whole Foods knows how badly this is needed. There are literally two employees at Trader Joes whose job it is to hold a sign that says "End of Line" because the line is always almost out the door on weekends and weekday evenings.

But won't someone please think of the poor, unemployed "end of line" sign holders? Whatever will they do!
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