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posted by martyb on Thursday August 17 2017, @02:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the who-is-going-to-ask-if-I-want-fries? dept.

72 years after [Clarence Saunders] attempted to patent his idea, advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and other technologies are making the dream of a worker-free store a reality. And American cashiers may soon be checking out.

A recent analysis by Cornerstone Capital Group suggests that 7.5m retail jobs – the most common type of job in the country – are at "high risk of computerization", with the 3.5m cashiers likely to be particularly hard hit.

Another report, by McKinsey, suggests that a new generation of high-tech grocery stores that automatically charge customers for the goods they take – no check-out required – and use robots for inventory and stocking could reduce the number of labor hours needed by nearly two-thirds. It all translates into millions of Americans' jobs under threat.


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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:42PM (1 child)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:42PM (#555372) Homepage Journal

    Both. Wal-Mart's business model, for example, demands they make their money primarily on volume rather than profit margins. If they can save a dime, at least half of it will go to lowering prices rather than profit.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:49PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 17 2017, @03:49PM (#555379)

    Nope. Wherever Walmart has created a monopoly by driving out all competitors, save a few niche boutique retailers, it's all Pr0fit!!!