How Robots Could Help Retailers Save Billions

[@tslee8236]

I see a future where physical shops are just giant vending machines.

[@timogul]

They essentially are at this point. You go in, grab the items you want, and then self-checkout.

[@RM-jb2bv]

@@timogul Yes. And in democrat-run hellscapes ie modern cities, you can skip the pesky ‘checking out’ part.

[@timogul]

@@RM-jb2bv If you think that shoplifting is a bigger problem in Democratic areas than Republican ones, then you've been sold a bill of goods.

[@RM-jb2bv]

@@timogul Yea that’s exactly who I see looting gas stations and Targets and Foot Lockers across America - Republicans 😂 That’s why 4 Walmarts just closed in Chicago. All the Sean Hannity fans robbing them blind.

[@FaithfulFumoFan23]

​@@RM-jb2bv "democrat-run" LOL just say what you want to say buddy. As if white people don't steal stuff or at least have the desire to. The biggest shoplifter at the store I used to work at was some white lady who would come in and switch price tags around and take put fake clearance tags on stuff. Said store used to be 24/7 but had to start closing at night because of all the drunks who would come in and walk out with a cart full of booze at 2am. The area I live in is heavily republican and WHITE.

[@barak-rocky-giles2081]

The biggest problem (of which there are many here) is that, while this will save retailers billions of dollars, it won't save the customers billions of dollars.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Barak: In a competitive world, that's not a problem. In time, places that charge too much for what they provide at service level X will tend to fade away. Outfits like Amazon and Walmart that use technology well tend to save the customer lots of money over time by more competitive prices. (Empty whining doesn't change that).

[@barak-rocky-giles2081]

@@rogergeyer9851 Exactly. The problem is that the world is becoming less competitive instead of more competitive. You can see this happening in several industries that are heading toward either monopolies or a limited number of real players in that particular market place. For example you just pointed out the 2 largest retailers (and they are still increasing their market share). Both of whom have actually seen increases in the pricing of their products as well as their memberships/subscriptions. In other words, when there are less choices, price inflation is inevitable. So actually no these technological advancements won't save customers money over time because they won't have any reason to but it will increase company profits.

[@shinzuririley2620]

The whole industry is a monopoly among several companies anyway. The consumer is just one step in their evaluations.

[@10percent4DaBigGuy]

there prices just will go up a little slower now at the rate of inflation the truth is when you need robots to replace employees that is not a sign of a good economy! companies don't get if all workers are replaced by robots who in the end will be left to buy their products!

[@KC-dr3cg]

Retailers saving money through reduced labor expense means there are fewer people who will be shopping because they won't have a job

[@cw48494]

I’ve been working retail for the last 15 years, a lot of my coworkers for 35 years. Most of the bad spending is on excess amount of chiefs or ‘new programs’ that always end up being phased out. A lot of corporate level employees have never worked on the sales floor, or have very little experience, being hired on from another company.

[@rogergeyer9851]

cw48494: It's the same in a LOT of industries, including high tech. ones. IBM is a classic example, the way they run their programming shops, for example. Sometimes doing things "cheaper" just means doing them much worse -- which they'd know if they had competent management vs. a bunch of marketers in management. The book "White Collar Sweatshop" (2002) lays this out for a LOT of companies and shows that this is a long term trend, re bad management assumes cost cutting and treating employees badly is the way to run business effectively, and doing meh to poorly as a result.

[@shinzuririley2620]

That's how you know there is failure in the mix. When they keep changing over and over. You don't fix what isn't broken.

[@butwhytharum]

Bingo, wanna save money? Look in the god damn mirror.

[@LesserAndrew]

Amazon's "Just Walk Out" fiasco is probably the biggest example

[@oooh19]

Yea the CEO position and similar positions aren’t in jeopardy!

[@up-uw4op]

The robot also doesn't have to pay rent or feed a family.

[@heinzbergheinzburg4316]

lmao smh

[@starbright6579]

@@heinzbergheinzburg4316 Don't laugh because they don't have to pay bills or eat, we do. These employers do not care about us. Soon we're going to be cannibalism. People are going to be eating people to survive, but by that time we will already probably been have died from old age. But babies who are born will be living through that by that time they want be babies anymore they will be in there 30s or 40s and we will be old in our 70s or dead.

[@DrDiabolical000]

Not yet.

[@1SmokingLizard]

You'll pay the robot in Volts, Terabytes and Bearings

[@michah321]

Yeah but they're expensive and machines, especially complicated machines, wear out and break. If the machine costs hundreds of thousands to buy and then more money in maintenance, it probably depends on how inexpensively they can make these robots

[@jasonmartinez9051]

Save this video. 30 years from now, we're gonna look back at those robots and think, "Those things look like antiques!"

[@Dblup]

I’m from the year 2053 & WOW! You are right!

[@Omer1996E.C]

These robots are too big, backward and slow

[@jasonmartinez9051]

@@Omer1996E.C Yup. The people from 2053 agree. 👍

[@thepearlswirl]

Right 😂

[@Wanderlauch]

That applies to almost everything we currently have

[@TikkaQrow]

8:10 there's no such thing as a 'staff shortage', just a shortage of companies willing to pay living wages.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Tikka: If you can't find enough competent and reliable workers willing to work low skill jobs, there are increasingly better robots to solve that problem cheaper than the workers. Whining that minimum wage should be some big number doesn't make that reasonable for low skilled work done poorly or unreliably.

[@gatowololo5629]

​@@rogergeyer9851 There was zero mention of raising the minimum wage. The free market has spoken. If companies are unwilling to pay more, workers are just going to better opportunities. Why would anyone take these jobs when better ones exist? Companies should stop whining about not finding enough workers.

[@shinzuririley2620]

Staff shortage is a real thing. During the peak of Covid we lost 80% of our staff over that year. Turnover was horrible, and still is. But I do see your point very clearly.

[@MaryJaneJones.]

Thank you

[@WillmobilePlus]

Too bad "living wage" is never an actual number amount, just a talking point for people with no skills demanding absurd amounts per hour to stock shelves.

[@andypowell7]

We have one of the robot floor cleaners where I work at a very large Supermarket chain. What a piece of junk. The floors have to be swept first otherwise it picks up all the debris and starts streaking and sometimes leaks too. No robots to sweep the floor yet. It also has to have a perfectly clear path or it freaks out or starts doing donuts. It usually just ends up shutting down. It cost over $20,000 and does a terrible job actually cleaning the floors unless it has a babysitter at all times. It’s not ready for prime time.

[@mototraining265]

😂

[@jackieclan815]

Damn!

[@rogergeyer9851]

Andy Powell: Sure. If you whine about robots, then robots will never take any jobs. Good luck with that. And yes, no technology is perfect, but robotics is improving MASSIVELY over time.

[@jackieclan815]

@@rogergeyer9851 yeah

[@manp1039]

they will get better.

[@jonchalk3855]

On a separate note: The robot cannot see what is behind the merchandise that is in front. I also worked in retail. On shelves with low stock, I would line up the merchandise on the shelf to "hide" the empty spaces behind. Then there are some customers who move around stuff and does not put them back where they got them from. They even hide merchandise behind other items in different shelves. So, yes the robot is capable of finding products that are not where they belong and can "pick up" and move the product in the appropriate place. But it still cannot see behind other products. How are they going to solve that problem?

[@xlargetophat]

I'm guessing all products will have some sort of chip.. and be tracked by Walmarts WiFi.. the robots will know exactly where everything is at all times. The shelves will be gone, only stored on pallets in bulk. The customers won't enter the store entirely and the robots will go get the product

[@arcatacompany]

Each one of those items is a different product with a different QR code, now let's suppose each one of those products has 12 other boxes that are hidden behind the one you can see, they can stack the boxes in a manner that the QR code can still be exposed all the way to the back of that row, they can set up a formula where each row is considered to have 10 items instead of the one that can be physically seen, all warehouses get stocked multiple times, one person in a warehouse may be opening up bulk packaging and putting those boxes or cases that are open on a warehouse shelf, another person called a picker or packer may go to grab that inventory, before that inventory is loaded up onto a shelf for the picker or packer or robot picker packer to grab it is sorted mathematically and in theory accurately by the person putting the products on the shelf, so it is possible for them to know exactly how many products are on that shelf without physically seeing them, also before that case of smaller boxes of product get open the case itself the pallet of full of cases that it might be on are also coded and sorted and stored in a specific location,and it is also impossible to see every single item that would be on that pallet or behind the plastic that wraps the pallet, or a shelf full of pallets, all of these situations are resolved with QR codes and proper organizing, in reality there is no proper organizing because this is where humans are still in charge

[@arcatacompany]

That problem has actually been solved, I don't recollect the name of the technology or program, but basically picture shelf with four different items from left to right

[@arcatacompany]

And a better quick answer, that is why they'll still have humans because somebody has to go turn that machine on or off or flip it back on its side when it falls down or point out the obvious box that is 2 inches outside of its vision

[@jonchalk3855]

@@arcatacompany that is genius. I did not think of that. Thank you. That was a clear explanation. And yes, they still need a human to oversee them.

[@arcatacompany]

I was part of the Nike robotics team in Amazon, third-party subcontractor I was just a worker that assembled robotics with sensors in different things to help count inventory, and yes everything that I assembled replaced somebodys job, people really need to be aware of how replaceable they are especially in big box stores like Walmart and Amazon

[@Billybobthor]

They want $15/hr then this is what they get.

[@vincentortega4284]

Arcata, Amazon has a large warehouse here in Oxnard, CA. A large portion of the warehouse is Automated with robotics.

[@H0DLTHED0R]

Good.

[@franko8572]

@@Billybobthor They wanted $15 5 years ago. Now it’s closer to $20 that they’re getting. At least here in the northeast, anyways.

[@vincentortega4284]

@@franko8572 Thats why many large companies are going to robotics, no payroll, benefits, vacation benefits to name a few. Robots can work 24/7 and do not complain.

[@MsGenXodus]

I’ve worked in retail, and I already feel bad for the robots. I’ve had products thrown at me, been coughed on during the pandemic, and had customers purposefully destroy merchandise right in front of my face because they didn’t get their way. I’m a human who can fight back, and some people already act like this. These poor robots are not even going to last a month before they are completely defaced, vandalized or out right stolen by shoppers. 😂

[@AA-kj4ic]

In the future likely customers go to walmart will be ordering everything on a tablet, pay, and robots will pick and kit everything within 5 mins and bring it to front to you, all bagged and ready to go. $0 labor cost, $0 theft loss. In the short term, it's not quite there yet, but it will get there soon.

[@mathijs9365]

Robots has cameras. Send to police department and you are fine.

[@TomNook.]

@@AA-kj4ic Yup, Amazon lite. Argos already do this in the UK

[@TheBossStudioZ]

you gotta wait until they decide to attach weapons on them to retaliate

[@monacoofthebluepacific2571]

Maybe the robots will be equipped with electric zappers to shock people who attack them😀

[@andrewferrauiolo4618]

Working in retail, I can tell you that there are so many things that's we have to do that waste our time and dont let us do what we absolutely have to do. Unloading truck and prepping product for the floor takes way too much time. If A.I. unloaded truck and make it floor ready before we even got there in the morning, we could get it to the floor quicker so customers could have more selection and there are no empty shelves

[@shinzuririley2620]

Facts. That's what should be automated. Using robots to track inventory already exists. They need to fine tune it, not take away a job more suited for a human.

[@aureliaglenn2220]

But that's not the problem that execs are trying to solve, unfortunately.

[@GhostOfSnuffles]

There's never such a thing as a worker shortage. There is however, a pay shortage.

[@scarface548]

What’s this supposed to mean. You mean bunch of people are sitting out waiting for better pay?

[@cjmacc3008]

Your exactly right !!!

[@cjmacc3008]

​@@scarface548no people just go find work that pays better

[@steveh5882]

nah, there's a shortage of workers. The ones that don't want to work are just lazy. You could double the minimum wage and they'd still not work. They rather be homeless and doing drugs.

[@WhyDoThat]

yes there is a worker shortage, it is called boomer's retiring and it will continue to get worse.

[@MohitDodke]

Corporate terms 101 - If workers demand fair pay to just live their life with some dignity, then we will use the term 'Worker Sortage' and command our stooges (politicians & media) to use it as well.

[@WillmobilePlus]

So? You dont get to dictate "fair". You are just big mad that you are losing any leverage you had. No one is obligated to give you a job at you demanded pay level so you can go buy more crap and eat out every day while you complain about "not getting by".

[@mikasa1279]

@@WillmobilePlus Does that mean the corporations are lying about a "worker shortage?"

[@PistonHonda87]

This is a talking point to justify mass immigration for cheap labor. Cesar Chavez tried to warn us. Koch brothers wanted this.

[@LesserAndrew]

I think grocery stories just want to get margins that are reliably higher than 1%. Is that greedy? Sure. But it's not exactly a conspiracy. Here's a quote from Walmart's annual report where they explicitly say they're using automation to boost margin: "Our objective of prioritizing margin focuses on growth with a focus on incremental margin accretion through a combination of productivity improvements as well as category and business mix. We invest in technology and process improvements to increase productivity, manage inventory and reduce costs and we operate with discipline by managing expenses and optimizing the efficiency of how we work."

[@longbeach225]

Soon these retailers won't be able to make money because many people won't have a job to buy things.

[@HKim0072]

We are basically at full employment.

[@rogergeyer9851]

longbeach225: Whining such things endlessly doesn't make them so -- nor has it for quite a few decades now. The world changes. It's best to deal with it.

[@bigbay1159]

@@rogergeyer9851 Change is coming better or worst nobody can say but its those that can adapt with the changes that will cope the best...but something like AI which is coming (already here not fully realized) hasn't been experienced by us humans before and it's looking to displace more than most think

[@VinceroAlpha]

@@HKim0072 says the ignorant dingbat

[@ReynaldoAbasr]

BUT THEY CAN STEAL ROBOT PARTS AND SELL IT TO CARTEL COUNTRIES AND CHINA

[@peni1641]

Ever wonder why there's always retail jobs available? I've worked retail, these robots will self destruct.

[@rogergeyer9851]

peni: Yup. No technology exists because it all "self destructs". LOL Ever try using your brain before making such claims? ... And yes -- technology will break and need maintenance. I've owned a car for 47 years now despite needing to put gas in them, maintain them, and repair them. I live in a house despite the fact that things break over time. Wake up. Reality beckons.

[@LesserAndrew]

In all seriousness, I wonder what the expected lifespan is for a robot that's supposed to spend all day driving around the floor.

[@Kinglioncrown]

If the workers are not getting paid well than retailers are going to have even more problems

[@cbreezy]

What workers? The only people that will matter will be the managers, and people that operate the machines. 😂

[@dekyne3227]

@@_Meng_Lan that sounds like a janitor they can easily transition current worker to that role

[@PeugeotRocket]

​@@_Meng_Lan You underestimate machines.

[@fuzzjunky]

that's the exact problem they're already having. there's work everywhere but employers still want us to work for nothing. finished up my retail job last week and every prospective employer i talk to offers me more money and asks when i can start. if you want more money first thing you gotta do is quit.

[@25784lazza]

@@_Meng_Lan In time they could be taught to do it but my goodness it would be so slow compared to humans.

[@jaymoney1252]

As a computer repair tech I am pretty excited for this, someone will be needed to maintain this

[@afterthestorm221]

My grocery store already has one of these and it's creepy because they've attached big wiggly eyes to it.

[@HappyTobeHere89]

That's kinda funny tho. I'd want to add a mustache and a silly mouth.

[@H0DLTHED0R]

Is that is true it must look like Beijing Biden, that is creepy after! 😢 run

[@cruizlee214]

Put clown decorations on it

[@glow1815]

😂

[@mrbn2022]

The biggest problem for retailers is the rampant shoplifting that goes completely un-prosecuted. My wife works at a large retail chain and the theft is constant This is what empties shelves of product - often multiple times per day. Robots are not going to fix this problem - just help re-stock the product stolen in the morning so that more can be stolen later in the afternoon

[@AA-kj4ic]

not to be worried, soon retail will be select on tablet, pay first and robot deliver to you.

[@avonfettydale9166]

Nobody is losing money from shoplifting

[@mrbn2022]

@@avonfettydale9166 Not true. Anyone who actually buys the product at the store pays for the theft through any combination of the following: - Higher prices charged to actual customers to cover the cost of stolen merchandise. - Higher prices charged to actual customers in order to pay the insurance that larger chain stores carry to cover large scale shoplifting (ie: when the theft is over $1000 - smaller thefts are below the minimum for insurance coverage and cannot be recovered). - When a store finally can't make enough to keep the doors open, most of the customers will incur higher and lengthier transportation costs to go to the store across town. None of the above includes the loss of income to the commission based department clerks who do not have enough product left to sell to paying customers and certainly not to store workers who lose their jobs because the store is shutting down. In the case of grocery stores closing because of shoplifting, it is leading to the creation of "food deserts" where the local community has literally no place to buy healthy food and is forced to live on junk food or fast food (mostly overpriced) - leading to obesity, diabetes and other expensive health issues. So "avon fettydale" the next time you go out for your daily shoplifting run - you should think about who is really losing money, because it's not the store - it's your family, it's your neighbors, it's your friends who do not steal, it's your community, it's the workers just trying to make a living... And we're all getting really sick of it, so KNOCK IT OFF!!!!!

[@avonfettydale9166]

@@mrbn2022 okay bootlicker

[@RM-jb2bv]

Two words: ED-209

[@carlosmontclair3808]

1 small problem, people who work at these stores also shop at these stores. If you take away the income people use at retail how will retail get any sales?🤯

[@TimLongson]

Using robots to move stock from a back warehouse to shop floor shelves makes sense for robots. BUT knowing exactly what is on the shelves & total stock SHOULD be software database automatically managed; the store database SHOULD easily be able to keep track of EVERY item in stock and their location. When a customer takes an item through a till for purchase, the database should AUTOMATICALLY update to know how many of that item is left on the shelf, & trigger shelf restocking flag when number sold reaches a certain point.

[@NEVAstopGAMER]

yes, that's how it works when the human customers are honest and actually put stuff back when they don't want it. Unfortunately, we as a human species have a "not my problem" mantra when we walk into stores, and would rather rip open packages, put vacuum cleaners in the freezer, and scan ribeye steaks as bananas at the checkout. This all happens WAY more then you would think. This quickly breaks the system you describe, which is what brick and mortars have been using for DECADES. The human element is why the physical verification of what is ACTUALLY on the shelfs is needed.

[@BMWROYAL]

U clearly have never worked at a huge grocery store, stuff falls behind the shelf, employees steal, customers steel, low payed works don’t care to report when something is dropped and they just throw it aways, they stock the shelves wrong customer returns are never put back in the right location. There is an automatic system however every year my store loses millions of dollars worth of itmes

[@BMWROYAL]

Plus I don’t think u know how fast certain items move, we can have in the system that we have 30 milk jugs left and they are all in customers carts and just havnt been purchased yet.

[@TimLongson]

@BMW Royal which an excellent use case justification for smart phone apps for real time checkouts; there are plenty of shops like Sainsburys which allow customers to download an app & scan items as they take them off the shelf - this allows them to keep track of their spend and have a faster checkout, but it can also be real-time linked to shop inventory for tracking shelf stocks.

[@davidwright873]

I thought that's how it was done. This is something new something sold and something bought.

[@Donkeybone10]

Being a technician they will be a headache for companies. They will break down more than they will be running. The costs to keep these running will be counterproductive.

[@apergiel]

Robots are cool. Those floors were made for wheeled robots , not for human feet walking on 40 hours a week. These robotics will help the rich get richer. The tougher problem is to provide the burgeoning population with meaningful work.

[@longbeach225]

Those robotic companies will need workers but unfortunately it will be skilled roles like developer and IT.

[@chriswright8074]

They took our jobs

[@maxb306]

What do you mean by meaningful work?

[@organicfarm5524]

​@@longbeach225 you forgot about manufacturing tool operators, mechanic, electricians, etc led by engineers of course unless these jobs are outsourced to Asia

[@ninjapirate123]

Robots are not humans

[@lyndanickerson1373]

This is why we need a basic income because many humans will be out of work due to Robots

[@bicybic]

I work in the meat department at Walmart, keeping inventory is definitely an issue and one thing I notice is times when online grocery pick up will come back there and take stuff out of the back bens or management / team leads taking stuff out to make displays but failing to tell the system they've done so. And of course when that happens the system doesn't know when to order those particular products thinking that we maybe still have them. I've always had the idea that maybe we could have shelves with sensors that actively count what's on the floor. Ofc though The system knows an item has been purchased when it goes across register, when people steal the system doesn't know the product is left the store and therefore the system won't order more product thinking we still have it. As for the robots, I'm not sure how they decipher depth on the shelf. But I can certainly say it would save me a lot of time and give me more time to focus on getting product out then fixing counts

[@aaronmorrison7716]

Smart shelves is the next thing. Most no one wants robots to be blocking the aisles.

[@DaveSimkus]

It's about damn time. Humans shouldn't have to work strenuous and stressful jobs. It makes no sense that this amazing and short life should be spent doing what you hate. We need to build systems so that we can be free to do what we want with our time.

[@RM-jb2bv]

That’s not how anything works. If a worker is replaced they don’t just keep h getting paid to live a life of leisure. Most likely they will starve

[@InquisitorBoomBoom]

Then how do we come to pay our bills? Most don't have college degrees or a lot of job vacancies to apply to in all companies.

[@RM-jb2bv]

@@InquisitorBoomBoom college degree? Lol. Take a look Ad these technologies. They haven’t even started yet and they are already hinting at massive workforce displacement STARTING with the white collar “college educated” workers. There is no plan in place. Look up ‘Joe 30330’ to get a peek the mentality of the people making policies.

[@Mr_CAM0]

​​@@InquisitorBoomBoom robots take enough jobs and there has to be a universal income. But that won't happen because these businesses just want more profits.

[@jahineverybody]

Your comment is tied for the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen! To struggle, and then overcome, and then the growth that comes from that, I believe is the whole reason we’re here in the first place. Through the use of technology, we’ve already gone way to far in simplifying life. What has it got us?? Fat with mental problems!! All this technology to save us time, and we feel busier then ever. All this technology to make us happy, and people are more depressed then ever. We’re on a dead end path, and your skipping gleefully down it.

[@PhD_Dad]

Charging and breaking down with no one at the store able to fix them will be major issues of these robots.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Dr. Dad: yes. No technology has ever been used because it might break down. And no progress was ever made because there were some issues. LOL Big hint: Just because X isn't perfect does NOT mean X is impossible or even undesirable, overall. Including robotics.

[@PhD_Dad]

@@rogergeyer9851 What are you talking about? I said charging and breaking down will be issues, I didn’t say they will prevent the robots from being implemented. There are obviously hurtles that the video doesn’t explore. You made overly generic statements that are irrelevant to my argument and point.

[@glow1815]

​@@PhD_DadI'm sure there will always be engineers on site standing by or whatever they will call it. Just like working at the office there will always be IT available to assist with trouble shooting. I used to work at the office now from home when I have issues with the system I get an IT yes sometimes I have too wait an hour or so depending on the issues. I am sure that was figured out if the company decided to have those robots do the jobs.

[@davidstufflebean3285]

As a retail project manager, we are already seeing test stores where there are no cashiers, just a couple of customer attendants. The entire check out lanes are all Self Checkouts < SCOs>. Personally, I can't wait for this and also for fast food places to change over to totally automated food services. Also take all the inventory off shelves and store it in a locked up back of house, you go up front pay for what you want then a robot brings it out to your car no more shoplifting.

[@MarkPemble]

It does sound good, but the upfront costs for these systems is prohibitive. Especially if we want to reduce food deserts.

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

I can't wait for feces covered walls at fast food restaurants either. Going to be hilarious.

[@glow1815]

And no more dealing with Karens and Ken's totally agreed.

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

What about when the robots realize they're thought of as Corky, get fed up with doing the mundane job of inventory, revolt and lay waste to those who didn't think they could perform more detailed tasks?

[@AKAAAK]

With the robot/self checkout future, that will leave millions unemployed. You better have a good profession that can't be replaced with robotics.

[@JB-yb4wn]

Maybe a politician?

[@AKAAAK]

@@JB-yb4wn No, rhat job is left for the dummies and clowns

[@shannoncraig509]

They could save even more money by creating an order ahead system, like the pickup model Sam's and most grocery stores here use. If they fully moved to pickup instead of allowing customers to shop in the store, then they could automate more of the store internally (like Amazon). This would also help reduce retail theft. I am not saying they should but I can see this becoming the standard model for most stores.

[@dannydaw59]

How does the robot see behind the items on the front of the shelf? Let's say that there's 6 boxes of a certain cereal left on the shelf and there's room for 24 boxes but that first row of 6 is blocking the empty space behind them.

[@mortenlgaard8462]

Was thinking that to

[@shuckahoseerazzle8486]

maybe sensors on the shelf, or some type of light or beam that can shine on the shelves and be able to calculate shadows and depth, idk im not that smart, AI is tho so we will just have to wait and see

[@ISpitHotFiyaa]

It may be able to position a camera just beneath the lip of the shelf above those items so it can count them from above.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Danny D: Humans who are lazy or too busy or stupid screw such things up a LOT as well. To the extent that as a shopper, I sometimes fix areas of the shelves where items I want are messed up, to make it OBVIOUS they're out of item X, so they'll fix it. (Since it often works, I think I know what I'm talking about here). The wrong product being at location X (likely moved there by browsing customers) causes a LOT of problems where stockers just assume one box of wrong product X means they don't need to DO ANYTHING like look, or read or move things or check, etc. And to the extent they're poorly trained, overworked, underpaid, under-rewarded for doing a good job, etc., there's little wonder this happens. But with the right sensors and programming and cameras (like weight sensors on the shelves, for example), such issues can be handled by robots. Plus over time, such technology improves a LOT as using it makes such issues obvious.

[@manp1039]

there are new sensors that can see through things.. but the shelving will probably be changed.. perhaps one option is to feed products in like vending machines.

[@_6-6_]

I don’t know why businesses keep replacing everyone Like yes you get higher short term profits but eventually who’s gonna buy your stuff? Other CEOs?

[@Morotr75]

Seriously, how hard would it be to hire people to walk around the store with a clipboard? Sounds more like an excuse to begin the process of replacing humans. I think the future of retail will be customers only being able to buy items on their phones, and someone delivering the items to the customer's home or parked car. Eventually that person will be replaced with a robot.

[@loydhenderson6945]

Agree100%

[@alexisf22]

I agree 100% these greedy businesses don’t want to pay wages

[@glow1815]

💰 is the issues GREED.

[@aaronmorrison7716]

Walmart tried that. It failed. They had three only online stores.

[@aaronmorrison7716]

Some Customers still want to inspect the products before they buy them.

[@Pilikoa]

Robots will never have a bad attitude or expect a tip. 👍

[@ROBO_Roundup]

It's amazing to see how far technology has come in creating robots that look and act like humans.

[@LaughingSeraphim]

Love how they frame in terms of how awesome it will be for the companies.

[@psp785]

There's a workers shortage because they're not raising wages

[@123chargeit]

This. Basic Economics, when something is scarce prices rise. What happens literally every time there is an oil problem in the world and supplies dry up? Why is it they can grasp the fact that will cause gas prices to rise and can accept that but when they can't find enough help to fill positions they just shrug there shoulders "Nothing can be done here everyone is lazy nowadays".

[@Someone-qy3kv]

Inflation… which is the biggest scam ever.

[@jihwankim4452]

Well in corporations perspective, they will use robot instead of worker who demand $15/hr, benefits, healthcare, and etc. Robot can work 24/7 to loo

[@CpsLock3]

ex retail employee. Here's the thing, when it comes to retail places. No one wants to be bothered to fix the damn things. If anything On site techs would be a needed thing because repair men in many cases are too inconvenient such as scheduling an appointment or having to remember your repair tickets or the fixers sent not having the parts, Retail is SLOW to fix machines that break down and they break down ALL THE TIME. Basicly Humans can heal, machines don't.

[@momo.ru-kun]

If people lose their jobs and have no money to buy what retailers sell, how in the world will the retailer sell their goods? Sell them to aliens? lol

[@celieboo]

Good point. But the greedy retailers don't see it this way. Higher prices have made me cut back so I can comfortably do the things that are more important to me. I'd rather travel than eat out more frequently.

[@diegolovell]

Ubi

[@Curling_Rack]

spray paint over the robot's optics

[@AA-kj4ic]

natural selection, unskilled people become obsolete in the labor market, or having to pick up other jobs. Those who cares about having a good time and party all day in school will have to face reality when they get out of school.

[@jvinclarence3977]

The reason for there being robots is because people aren’t working. Just like the other person said, natural selection. You can choose to adapt to a new career like working/ maintaining the robots or another job or unfortunately lose everything.

[@dwightbain8328]

That first blue machine is a floor scrubbing machine

[@Kinglioncrown]

these retailers in my opinion won't be able to survive without workers

[@huckleberryfinn6578]

yet

[@francisluglio6611]

I’m amazed that retail is still alive

[@Mike1064ab]

Businesses need to go back to restocking early in the morning or over night so the workers are not in customers way during the busiest times of the day. It’s like a warehouse in most stores and they do not watch where they’re going. They really should be doing this stuff when the store is empty.

[@ScarlettM]

Why not create a software for stores, where a customer can enter the name of the product and be directed to it's location? Without having to run around the store and looking for a customer service worker. That's would be REALLY helpful!

[@MrBushMan]

Walmart has that already but only a percentage of people use it

[@ScarlettM]

@@MrBushMan Well, I wish Harris Teeter and Food Lion would start using it.

[@nickl5658]

Because when people often buy things at the spur of the moment. They go in to buy one item and come out with 3 more. Supermarkets use this effect.

[@davidblackwell6421]

For all of the aging boomers out there that can't remember where everything is located in their "big box" store, have a creative marketing team come up with a shopping "pal" that sits on their shopping cart and helps them fulfill their orders i.e. turn left here and stop at the appropriate spot. Input lists of items via phone apps. Ideally, this stepping stone would allow automated fulfillment either from the store/home or perhaps neighborhood (i.e. text the buyer to meet the delivery truck for their street). Semi-autonomous delivery vans to eliminate multiple ICE vehicles driving to the store.

[@iSMX22]

it might be on purpose as you walking around the store to find the item will result in more purchases

[@SemekiIzuio]

Amazing working opportunity! These machines will and can break down, what a profitable opportunity to learn the trade of tech and machinery.

[@verumignis4778]

I love how you have to pay montly for the software. Shady business prectices arent just hitting consumers I guess...

[@moneyrules1337]

The title of the video says it all, the ultimate goal of companies isnt to help YOU, its to help THEM. Never forget that the interest of the rich is to keep them at the top of the pyramid.

[@sandsoftime5535]

When I hear overstock not sold just gets thrown away fuels my anger. I've also seen manager throw out a perfectly good bedding set. Do retail ever consider all the needy before just throwing things away?

[@cattigereyes1]

No, wage slaves are just consumers. Not people.

[@darrylt8502]

Andrew Yang: Robots are coming. Make UBI a reality. People: We want $15 minimum wage. Corporate: Robots it is.

[@TyrellWhitney-h3x]

These robots will help retailers save billions, so that they can pay human employees less

[@TurboK24z]

That's the point???

[@Tony-Steel64]

Which is great. Less employee opportunities for u humans.

[@Tony-Steel64]

@@TurboK24z So u all can lose your jobs. dumba$$! Bot!

[@aceyage]

And then we'll surprise them with a 90% tax rate for companies using AI and robotics…

[@MrGoalie2012]

@@aceyage yall just love to hate on the rich and corporations don't ya

[@Zordiak]

I highly doubt this thing works well. Push all the cereal boxes to the front and I'm sure it reports the shelf as full.

[@rattanack1413]

Businesses that do this should pay more taxes to cover Universal basic income for destroying jobs

[@damham5689]

They will spend more bribing politicians to make sure they don't have to. And they will probably use the excuse that sales are down because robots don't buy products.

[@movingman07]

Not really people should step their game up learn how to fix the robots it pays better

[@alleygato3204]

​@@movingman07 and what happens when there are only 100 people needed for robot maintenance, but millions of people who WANT to maintain robots so they can afford rent & food? Acceleration of automation will eventually outpace the need for human jobs, even "skilled" human jobs, because that's exactly what capitalism incentivizes. That's why the profits from automation need to be redirected to the working class (eventually forced to be the UNEMPLOYABLE class) instead of hoarded by massive corporations & shareholders

[@Someone-qy3kv]

Hmmm. I feel like this is inventing a problem retail doesn’t actually have? The only time we physically count inventory is, well… during inventory. Other then that pretty much every retailer I have worked for has its inventory tied to a computer system that knows when a product is low and just orders more. The reason you see empty shelves, at least in this day and age. Is due to lack of inventory from the distributors. Not because someone forgot to stock it or order it.

[@RM-jb2bv]

More “How robots replacing jobs is a good thing” from CNBC. Keep up thd good work!

[@timogul]

It is a good thing, so long as we build in systems to make sure that everyone is taken care of, regardless of their value to the economy. If a robot can do a job, then no human should have to do it, but also no human should go homeless or hungry just because nobody has any need for their labor.

[@RM-jb2bv]

@@timogul Yea good luck with that utopia. Bc central planning has worked so well thus far. Also ask yourself why as our technologies have improved, Americans are working themselves to death and the things that really matter (housing, healthcare, education) are being priced out of reach.

[@timogul]

@@RM-jb2bv Yes, it's because in the US, Republicans have convinced their people to give all power to "The Corporation," and the corporation literally never cares about humans. In countries where this is not the case, they have much higher levels of happiness. The corporations are doing _great_ though. There really aren't other options though, AI WILL take over all white collar jobs within the century, and machines WILL take over all blue collar jobs within the century, this is unavoidable, so the only question that remains is "what will happen to all the people?" The corporations know what to do. Liquidate.

[@INTJ791]

​@@RM-jb2bv just because one thing wrong, other thing that 50 percent related also become wrong

[@saulgoodman2018]

They can tell how many items they have in stock based on the point of sales system. Give or take what customers have in their cart or were moved.

[@danieldaniels7571]

And shrink. Don't forget shrink.

[@manp1039]

that is a good point.. if the robot knows how many products were put on the shelf and how many of a product was sold.. and can look at the shelf too.. it could identify anomolies.. also could identify stray products in wrong locations.

[@saulgoodman2018]

@@manp1039 My point is, that robots would be useless.

[@MRdeLaat]

how are they expecting people to earn money in the future if this keeps going?

[@jasonjohnson4803]

As a future robotics and automation engineer, this is promising and encouraging.

[@MaureenLycaon]

One thing these stories never mention is the cost of increasing social instability and unrest caused by reducing the supply of jobs.

[@misterkiller89]

The title of this video "...help retailers save billions" = "We're not paying our human employees a livable wage, so we're replacing them with bots"

[@Saliferous]

it's funny they think they will save billions. Likely they will lose them from lost sales from customers not having jobs. Morons.

[@saagisharon8595]

@@Saliferous less labor costs mean more money to spare to pay taxes which in turn pay welfare checks to the people who lost there jobs to AI

[@vienphuongduong1912]

“How technology can take over more human jobs and further increase the profits of corporations”

[@muzerhythm2242]

People need to see this as a shift in labor market....instead of stocking shelves, go into assembly for the robotics or even get the training to repair and troubleshoot the robots. It's a whole new world in the labor market....Adapt Or Be Left Behind!

[@morpheusmatrix9207]

Elon says it's likely humanoid robots will outnumber us at least 3 to 1, self-repairing capabilities are being developed but humanoid robots with AI are already here. Over time they will be smarter, faster and stronger than us, and if we don't build them China will.

[@jackiegleason9272]

I believe you are incredibly naive. A single robot will be able to replace multiple human employees (they never take a break and can work 24 hours a day) and a single technician will be able to maintain dozens of robots -- maybe even hundreds of them, depending on how durable and reliable they are. Net result, hundreds of jobs eliminated for every new job created. As for, "assembly for the robotics," get a clue ... the robots will be assembled by other robots, of course! It's a shift in the labor market, alright. I"m retired. If you're still working, you better learn to "adapt" to the fact that AI and robots will replace nearly all human workers in your lifetime. Good luck getting a job when there are literally thousands of applicants for every available job. The rich, needless to say, will get exponentially richer, and everyone else will be screwed.

[@tubby_1278]

Yup robotics and AI is gonna be the hot new thing

[@USA__WILL]

I'm fine with robots taking over repetitive "dumb" jobs. Maybe average people will then decide to get educated to keep up and be competitive with others. Our drop out population are complete idiots and lack any critical thinking raising incompetent generations

[@MS-np2nf]

they've solved the work shortage problem...by offering liveable wages.

[@Steven-xf8mz]

Honestly it sounds like they just need a better data infrastructure. If sales data are realtime, they can set a max shelf count, and an alert can be sent to the stocking team in the back when available quantity goes below 50%, then each refill is set to 50%, so the shelf is always gonna be 100% - "% in the cart" after every refill.

[@doujinflip]

We already have that, but clearly it's not enough. Especially with thefts and aborted picks where the customer puts down the item someplace else.

[@Steven-xf8mz]

@@doujinflip theft is a problem I guess but misplaced item isn't. Simply because regardless if there is a robot counting, the store has to hire necessary staffing to walk around and get those things back to where they belong, no?

[@user-wp9mz]

Basically without saying it you're saying that human employees are worthless and cannot do their jobs and this is why you're going to spend billions on these robots I'll tell you right now I will not shop in a store that has any robots

[@Anomize23]

Already bad enough with a line of people trying self check out and take longer than employees working there. 🙄

[@mark11967AD]

Amazon and other mega companies have cut out the competition so these “shortages” in some cases are calculated moves to raise prices overall and sell the items the big corporations decide are worth selling and fit a basic staple rather than enable true choice. You’ll see it at CVS for example. Empty shelf spots but key staple products that are the most popular in abundance. Screw choice. We are in control. And while you’re at it you’ll pay us more. Oh and don’t forget we keep shrinking the size of everything which really means even much higher inflation. Happy shopping.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Mark Norman: Yes yes. The world is a giant conspiracy if you say so. And it's also flat...

[@praveenmunda1323]

Americans needs some serious economic reform before automation at local level.

[@Pierredirects]

Eh, seems like a problem smart-shelves could fix. Track inventory, adjust price display, identify lost products, alerts, and track sales without the use of an obstructing robot on the floor.

[@krishnabasnet7352]

Billions to make those robots and billions to maintain. But these companies are not ready to pay millions to workers that they actually need for living.

[@yuglesstube]

Wonderful it will be when, released from our labours, we'll have time to enjoy ourselves all day.

[@consciouscollective33]

Turn every UPC code into an RFID chip and this becomes ridiculously accurate. Convince Walmart to integrate RFID to scrubbers with direct input to Retail Link. Those chips are incredibly cheap for the improvement in efficiency and reliability. Bypass the scrubbers altogether and track the floor like you would an Amazon warehouse with RFID. Link your card to the Walmart app and you could remove the cashier with live-time tracking of what you place in your cart. Train those employees to be technicians for the new technology implemented.

[@doujinflip]

Still not cheap enough against ink on packaging to replace the barcode on a disposable candy bar wrapper.

[@manp1039]

Amazing.. i can see these bots also due triple duty as a security bot that scan and records cutomers for loss prevention? could be used at door exits to view receipts and shopping carts before customers exit vefor they allow them to pass?

[@CHEVonsteam]

Brother, telling me that we need more Snickers dropped isn't going to get it dropped. A person has to put it on the shelf. You're just telling me something that I already know

[@thedebunkers5992]

This is why the US desperately needs to open a computer chip facility(such as a foxconned facility) somewhere.

[@aureliaglenn2220]

There was a failed attempt a few years ago, but Foxconn stiffed Wisconsin after it built a "facility" there.

[@scriptles]

The problem I see is when shelves are "fronted" which means all the product is pushed out to the front of the shelf. Shelfs then look full and you would not notice that the inventory is low. I am not sure these robots can determine this by picture alone. Amazon Go's concept with weight sensors in the shelf seem like a more fit solution. Now lets talk about how dumb this idea is. If you have overhead camera's you should be able to do this without the added energy costs and material cost to build a robot to then take a long time doing the same thing. However, yes, camera's overhead have a harder time of seeing lower shelves. There are better, faster, and cheaper solutions that would result in more money in the retailers pockets. Lets talk a moment about what we actually want or need. Physical stores are nice in the fact you can hold the item, look at it more closely. But I think some stores got it right with folded towels making it look like shelves are full. I also think that phone providers and computer providers got it right. You want one of your product out for display, but everything else should be kept away. This is why Apple stores for example which are everywhere are nice. You can play around with the computer on the desk before making the decision to purchase it and rather then the whole floor being used to house the products they can have a smaller store to just show things off. Also in doing this you reduce theft. We have all seen the videos of smash and grabs but what you do not see is people taking non-display items. Stores could reduce the size significantly for the customer, if they were to take the approaches that other industries are taking. Why do I need a 5 foot wide shelf to show me 3 different brands of the same product? To me, that is wasted space. I think this is why costco and aldis will just move the pallets out onto the floor. It's quicker to replace inventory but they still are exsposed to the theft problems. But inventory tracking becomes easier with that approach and saves a lot of costs. Ideally, SOME things need to be easy to quickly grab and buy, but not everything needs to be.

[@hp4415]

If you compare apple store to retailers like walmart ( there are huge differences). Do apple have 10,000 or more in different products. Do apple shoppers buying 50 to 100 items at a time? Im sorry but that’s just stu pid comparation

[@johniii8147]

They have sku data and models to help them with the inventory in addition to just the robots. They blend all that data togeather.

[@scriptles]

​@@johniii8147 Reasonable response. I was going to mention that too. Their POS (point of sales) system will let them know how many of an item they sold which lets them know the demand. Needing a robot to verify that is called redundancy. Redundancy absolutely has a place in society, most servers use redundancy in the form of RAID which means if 1 drive fails it can fall back onto one of the other drives. I do not think that the robots are adding real value to the store but it most definitely is adding value to the company who makes the robots. Stores need to address real problems plaguing them. Those real problems are labor shortages, product theft, and poor customer service. Fixe those 3 problems and you will see a much more profitable business that can compete with the likes of amazon who doesn't have to worry about the average Joe walking into a warehose and stealing products. Amazon actually has A+ customer service on top of resolving much of the theft (aside from package theft loss's). However, Amazon does lack staffing that could increase the user experience getting their packages to them on time but that's just societies low work ethic usually caused by bad boss's at other jobs and society always holding them down. For example a factory I worked at would wait for you to clock out to ask you to do overtime like yeah the 72 hours you did was fantastic but John in the other department called in sick so we need you to work another 4 hours today to cover for him. You have to realize that with each "solution" that businesses implement comes costs. The person who repairs the robots, makes more then the min wage employee. The parts to repair the robot are not free. The electricity to charge the robots is not free. There is also the generation of people who would rather support human jobs who will now switch loyalty to another business. All of these things now cost the company money. One thing that robots are good at and not even robots but even machines that do 1 task over and over is consistency. But this video mentions robots do not call in sick. They are right, instead they break down. When an employee calls in sick, you lose production time. When a robot breaks down you lose production time but now have to pay to fix the robot which costs money and puts you further in the hole called debt. The amount of energy that a POS system uses to do inventory management is far less then the robots costs and often are already backed up by redundancy with on site, and cloud storage of data. But there is something to keep in mind.. if you were to say have a computer that can preform 10 actions a second. And you ask it every second check inventory that machine wound be able to compute anything else. If instead you stopped polling for data queries every second used a callback or functional approach you could say every time we make a sale just update inventory and check. Well now you can process 5 sales, plus 5 inventory checks. It's not about how fast of a car you have in nascar that wins the race, it's how you drive it. Same applies when it comes to business and business based logic. This is why I mention Amazon's Go stores. They have sensors on the shelves, cameras, etc and those are the inventory management system and POS all balled up into 1. That's why you just walk in grab something and walk out. There are no registers or anything it just automatically deducts from your account. Walmart's approach is use self sheckouts which unfortunately results in theft from unscanned items. Walmart has a major disconnect that has not kept up with societies advancements. Times have changed, so must your strategy and I do not think that the robots add real value here. They actually are more of a liability, then an asset in my personal opinion.

[@arcatacompany]

One of the ways that they automate in a warehouse for instance counting inventory is to use QR codes on the shelves and on each individual box, each box will have the code facing out so even if there are three or four levels stacks of the same box they will know how to count it because there's a system in place and all they need to do is see the code once, however setting up inventory to be able to be functional for a robot is something that is not easily done

[@scriptles]

@@arcatacompany I have actually had to do inventory in a warehouse and production floor. That is sorta how they did it for "unopened" boxes but then you have opened ones where we had to count each part in the box separately. Some other things that were done were weight count if 1 weighs x then 10 should way 10x. However this doesn't work in retail where you are counting on shelves. Sometimes products are brought up to the front of the shelf because it makes the store look plentiful and thus gets more sales. If you tried this tactic seeing a box of cereal for example at the front of the shelf you would be assuming the shelf is 100% full when it may be only 1 left of 10. Which means this whole bot situation could cause your inventory to just be plain off which may lead you to believe you have product you do not actually have and thus not order more leading to empty shelves which puts you right back at square 1. This is my gripe with the whole robot, it doesn't add value that your POS already does much better for you the only thing the POS does not account for is actual theft which gets nullified if you only display on the floor but have backroom the merchandise.. hence the apple approach. The most of any product that can be stolen is 1.. because thats all that is on the floor at any 1 given time. Your count will never be far off as seeing it missing alerts you to subtract 1 from inventory. Far superior inventory management practice apple has.

[@tiamarie1226]

For out of stock items...it just has become the norm for me to make a list and expect something to be out of stock if not an urgent need or a key ingredient I dont go to another place because no time to be going many different places. I postpone to another time or just dont purchase at all.

[@christianduval9067]

I saw one in Walmart.....not moving to much....when you have customer in the store...the robot can't go nowhere.. It was funny actually

[@nikolaimanek582]

When will we see that news report where we learn about all the new and interesting jobs they give to all these people that are replaced by robots and AI? I have been an IT executive for most of my work life and trust me when I say that none of us has any clue what to do with all these people. We have to put people first, also in news reporting.

[@JB-yb4wn]

Not to worry, all those displaced people will form roving wealth redistribution gangs to equalize the income disparity between the haves and have nots. Fun times for all.

[@orangesnowflake3769]

I suppose there goes my job 😂 but at the same time this is very cool 😊

[@paulstandaert5709]

One of the precipitating factors of going with robotics is the fact that robots tend to show up for work more reliably. Some are worried about losing their jobs to robots, which is understandable, but also understand how irritating it is trying to find people to fill positions.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Paul Standaert: Lots of management is too clueless or lazy to REALIZE that LOOKING for good people who are motivated to care and work hard, TRAINING them well, REWARDING them, promoting them if they deserve it, etc. would SOLVE MANY such problems. This used to be VERY normal for many companies with skilled employees. Sadly, far too many went to the "do it whatever way is cheapest" mentality, where they largely STOPPED doing the right things for good employees, and the results are rather obvious. IBM (where I worked) and the Lou Gerstner era and after is a blatantly obvious example. IBM was a fantastic company in the 70's and a fine company in the 80's. Now it mostly runs on momentum. There are endless examples like this.

[@AvadaVendetta]

That's not true. I work in and IT and if you did as well, you'd understand how often machines stop working for no apparent reason, or refuse to work with each other. Plus maintenance, updates etc.

[@paulstandaert5709]

@@AvadaVendetta I know as well as you how stuff needs to be power cycled every now and then. But humans create more downtime for sure.

[@mikasa1279]

Can we use A.I. to replace the CEO's?

[@marcusm8009]

Pay a person to ride that vehicle to wave and answer questions. Robots do get sick, they do get tired and they demand benifits. Virtual attacks, wear and replacement, upgrades or cornered markets and availability of raw materials to produce. They have a 3-5 year shelf life of upfront large cost compared to workers that last 1-20+ years. Handheld Scanners equip to workers that do inventory counts will prove to be most effective as scanning robots dont organize product, clean messes, or respond to customer service. Food for thought.

[@NinaCasali]

I have worked retail for 47 years, get a POS system that works with stock counts. Retail employees have been abused by customers and the companies they work for. Take care of the employees get rid of those stupid robots.

[@ocampbell1954]

Do you want them to bring back the coal mining jobs too.😅 The world will continue to move forward whether you like it or not.

[@NinaCasali]

@@ocampbell1954 Ok so comparing coal mining jobs to automation is a bit much. I am all for automation, but I would like to see humans working. A better stock tracking program can be written, so when a product is sold it gets taken out of inventory immediately, this would enable retailers to have real time info. I don't use self checkout because I believe they are taking humans out of the industry and it is not like they are lowering prices because they are not paying an employee. Yes, these are low paying and usually part time positions but they are being done by a person, the retail store is not going to put those people in a different position, they are just going to let them go.

[@ocampbell1954]

@@NinaCasali learn the skills that these robots will need. You're going to need IT, technician, programming, etc type jobs.

[@NinaCasali]

@@ocampbell1954 I know there are plenty of other jobs related to these, not arguing that at all. Some people work retail as a second job or are without degrees and are just trying to get by. I believe in brick and mortar retailing. Online retail has it's place but if we automate everything it will disenfranchise a lot of people and put them out of work. Automation is the way of the future but it is not for use everywhere. I hope we are not phasing out the human factor is all.

[@ocampbell1954]

@@NinaCasaliThat's not how the world works. We can't stop human ingenuity just because people fail to adapt or will get left behind. America is competing with the rest of the world in the tech space. It's our responsibility to push our brightest and create. I'm sure people complained when the assembly line and many other advancements were invented.

[@kevinliew3692]

Right, so instead of spending just Thousands to raise the wages, retailer spend Millions to make robots. What?

[@towerofresonance4877]

Rod Serling saw this coming.

[@JohnS-er7jh]

my local food store has had one of these robots for 5 years. They streamlined the number of employees working in all areas, including cashiers, they try to force shoppers to use self checkout (by not having anyone at a register). All I noticed Is the store has gone downhill in terms of quality of food/number of shoppers year after year. Meanwhile a new foodstore opened across the street, they don't have a robot or self checkout. They have a HUGE variety of fresh food the place is packed. While the prices are about 5% more expensive then the other foodstore, people want quality and service from employees (especially since the high cost of food, many people are no longer going out to restaurants, so they can get good food and heat it up at home and overall save a lot of money versus going to a restaurant with tip, etc.).

[@valli6174]

If it helps save billions for retailers at the cost of jobs, the lost jobs should be taxed to establish universal basic income, so people can finally get little bit of freedom from meaningless jobs and can pursue higher things, or simply live their best life. It's horrible to just think about this as a way to get rid of workers so companies can rake in billions more.

[@Saliferous]

I don't think they will. They're taking billions from the economy. 25% are in retail. Take away 25% of your customers, what happens? more profits? Moronic.

[@H0DLTHED0R]

Move to Venezuela or Russia with your commie thinking. We'll stick to corrupt democracy here until Skynet and their T1's take over

[@yuglesstube]

There will be trouble. Mark my words. The social and political effects will be profound.

[@senorkurtz3776]

I don't understand why this news say: "save billions", they is just increasing their ******* profits in order to obtain more and more capital and money. It is just avarice and greed

[@cashflow68]

I love this new robot technology. It saves the company time and money. People nowadays dont want to work anymore. All they want is social programs. All in on robots.

[@rudyrudelaemmerhirt]

No way, can I see this video without thinking, that we need universal basic income as a result of technological advances such as this

[@VinceroAlpha]

if you believe that, then I got some prime real estate in Antarctica to sell you!

[@fixieroy]

and what happens to the retail workers? this is why union jobs are important. At least then the workers could impliment this tech in a way that aids them rather than replace them.

[@hbt5427]

THERE IS NO ""SHORTAGE OF WORKERS"" ..... Try to pay more and people will show up for work.

[@saagisharon8595]

It's retail, they couldn't pay you rewarding wages if they wanted to

[@Rigandfixit]

I read about this 20 years ago. Now it’s been coming to the light 10 year now. Now it is really finally coming true..

[@diegolovell]

Jobs are going to either get easier r be fully replaced .. ubi r some form of pay for existing is the only way to go in a robotic future.. tax the companies..n if anyone ask where the money is going to come from the answer is the same place it's been coming from since the 70s.. thin air

[@Saliferous]

no, tax the robots. You automate a job, you have to pay for it.

[@bornjusticerule5764]

i saw an automated robot roaming the aisles of Walmart in Cocoa, FL yesterday. It was crazy and weird af

[@777dragonborn]

It's horrible working under any corpo retail box store. Crap pay , management,hours, everything is crap. It's makes sense for robots to work there for The entire system is a machine.

[@brockdiehl6342]

"Can save a company upwards of $4.6 million a year..." right into Corp Manager's pocket, and downsizing the workforce, causing workers to lose thier jobs. its a chain reaction.

[@Landshark2020]

Great!! So the prices will go way down!!! Right? Right?

[@catvisiontv855]

WE definitely need the Universal Dividend for everyone.. because less jobs with robots becoming more advanced.

[@fofoqueiro5524]

In the beginning, while watching the KZbin video, I was confused about why the shop owner required a robot to monitor sales and inventory. It seemed redundant at first. However, it dawned on me later that the situation accounted for those "grab-and-go", making cashier data unreliable for tracking sold or unsold items.

[@auro1986]

who will buy all those things in shelves if you hire robots and fire humans that could have purchased and consume what's in shelves ?

[@freddyfriend5462]

Retailers will switch to goods for robots or robot consumer goods. Like bearing oil, batteries, parts and accessories, etc. 😀

[@GCJACK83]

While robots able to alert low stock are nice, they often can't see beyond the first row of items in a lineup. Meaning you could have anything hidden on the shelf that would be in plain sight for a person but will be hidden to a robot. This opens up new lanes for shoplifters. Also, robots can't do janitorial work beyond sweeping and vacuuming, nor can they repair themselves. Humans still have a role here.

[@INWMI]

this destroys the fundamental idea of henry ford, his best customers were his own employees, how is going to buy if you fire 90% of groceries store staff?, yeah ultra rich and 1% still needs to eat but the bigges volume of supermarkets is middle class, working class...