“Just walk out” technology by Amazon • Hacker News Board

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#131

Post by jfengel » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:32 PM UTC

dekhn wrote: post #85

oarsinsync wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The information revolution appears to be having the opposite effect, with massive productivity gains resulting in fewer employees needed. One of the outcomes of this is that parts of the country have been 'left behind' economically. This isn't only in England, but happening in other countries too (e.g. the USA). The surge in 'nostalgic'[0] voting (Brexit and MAGA spring to mind, respectively) is one of the outcomes o…

I think in the short term, the information revolution appears similar to the industrial revolution: a category of jobs become obsolete, but long term, the economy grows, and adds many more categories of jobs.

The possibility that it won't merits consideration. It's entirely possible that new industries will spring up, but it would be dangerous to rely on that and plan as if it were certain. Even the "long tail" that people predicted for artists to make a living in a widely-connected economy has thus far largely failed to materialize.

The fact that I can't imagine it is no proof that it won't happen, of course. But I feel that we've gotten lucky in the past, and I hate depending on my luck.

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#132

Post by nborwankar » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:34 PM UTC

Amazon will have some record of all the transactions, at least initially to help in the transition, and that means it can figure out what’s selling best where, then undercut the stores online. Allowing Amazon inside your transactions is not a strategy for long term survival. Having said that it’s hard to see what other options retailers have when their competitors start using this tech and improving margins. High end retailers can differentiate by saying “we have actual people”.

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#133

Post by dekhn » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:35 PM UTC

jfengel wrote: post #131

dekhn wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think in the short term, the information revolution appears similar to the industrial revolution: a category of jobs become obsolete, but long term, the economy grows, and adds many more categories of jobs.

The possibility that it won't merits consideration. It's entirely possible that new industries will spring up, but it would be dangerous to rely on that and plan as if it were certain. Even the "long tail" that people predicted for artists to make a living in a widely-connected economy has thus far largely failed to materialize. The fact that I can't imagine it is no proof that it won't happen, of course. But I feel…

i guess if you take this idea to its logical conclusion, we will end up in a post-scarcity economy where nobody "needs" to work, yet all their needs are met. So far, it's unclear whether this outcome will occur, and I do agree it's unclear what the outcomes of the information revolution will be, in terms of overall economic comfort of individuals.

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#134

Post by nullorundefined » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:37 PM UTC

baryphonic wrote: post #115

femiagbabiaka wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Industrial Revolution was a terrible period for workers up until the labor movement began fighting for putting basic protections in place. Lots of people got very wealthy though, that's for sure. This view of history as immutable, with the ends always meeting the means is the sort of thinking that I believe is holding us back as a society. Researchers are still studying the impact that the industrial revolution h…

Compared to what? Sure, it was awful compared to working at Google with unlimited snacks and all of that. Compared to being a peasant subsistence farmer, it wasn't so bad.

it was literally misery on scales that hadn't been seen before. children were expected to work in horrible and abusive conditions. everyone was working very long and gruelling days for next to nothing and had no way to protect themselves from exploitation.

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#135

Post by nullorundefined » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:39 PM UTC

baryphonic wrote: post #115

femiagbabiaka wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Industrial Revolution was a terrible period for workers up until the labor movement began fighting for putting basic protections in place. Lots of people got very wealthy though, that's for sure. This view of history as immutable, with the ends always meeting the means is the sort of thinking that I believe is holding us back as a society. Researchers are still studying the impact that the industrial revolution h…

Compared to what? Sure, it was awful compared to working at Google with unlimited snacks and all of that. Compared to being a peasant subsistence farmer, it wasn't so bad.

also, "it wasn't so bad?" were you there? suffering is suffering.

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#136

Post by 7777fps » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:39 PM UTC

ttoinou wrote: post #46

In France all our Decathlon (generic sport gear) stores already have RFID chips and checking out (at a free outlet to self checkout or at a cashier who'll basically do the same thing as you) consist of only putting the goods in a basket, the recognition / scanning of the RFID chip is very good and fast. If you walk out with goods you didn't buy the guard will have a notification on his smartphone with the list of unp…

I went to a Decathlon in the UK to buy a bag and it was a weird experience. There was something a bit unnerving about interacting with a system with not enough feedback.

A reassuring 'beep' from the system would have helped me know it had scanned and was happy rather than waiting for it to show up on a screen.

Overall I find self-checkouts with barcodes quicker and easier. A scan and beep is a quick action. Putting something in a basket and waiting an unspecified amount of time was weird but no doubt would be something I'd get used to if it was a regular thing.

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#137

Post by seibelj » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:40 PM UTC

WheelsAtLarge wrote: post #110

I hate the no people future, therefore, I hate this service. Unfortunately for me, that means nothing. I see this service taking over, at the very least, a large percentage of the 7/11 bodega type of stores. I see a future where the corner store will return. Over the last few years, companies have gone large so they can take advantage of the economy of scale. This service will reduce labor costs and have costs fall r…

Do you wish that elevators had employees to hit the button for you, and every door had a doorman to open it? This isn't exactly something new...

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#138

Post by londons_explore » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:40 PM UTC

buckminster wrote: post #77

lozaning wrote: post #29

IDK what happened to it, but for a while the Mountain View Walmart had a system where your cart had a pricing gun thing and you'd scan stuff as you put it in your cart. Then when you got to self checkout you paid in the Walmart app and left with no other steps. I thought it was pretty convenient. Its no longer there and I've not seen it anywhere else so I guess maybe it was a failed pilot program or something.

Tesco in the UK has this in my local store. I don't live in a hotbed of innovation so I assume it's nationwide. Edit: it's called 'Scan as You Shop' and is offered in about 500 stores.

It's kinda rubbish when you buy an item without a barcode...

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#139

Post by sgc » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:40 PM UTC

grandmczeb wrote: post #130

throwaway3157 wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> When I've used to Amazon Go store, My receipt was in the app shortly after (I walked about two blocks and checked). I think it took longer for an email to show up, but can't recall exactly

My experience had been that it can vary quite a bit. Most of the time it’s pretty quick, but occasionally it can be over an hour.

Maybe that is a person verifying because the software flagged something as uncertain.

Re: “Just walk out” technology by Amazon

#140

Post by Someone1234 » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 5:41 PM UTC

tines wrote: post #45

Someone1234 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you're saying the "upside" against people's negativity is mass layoffs?

How does your rebuttal differ from the one made against all automation?

It is a rebuttal against calling this the "upside." It is a downside of automation in general too, one that many people have spent a lot more time than either of us thinking about.