Amazon scales back checkout-free tech, shifts focus to profits under new CEO
• Amazon is removing Just Walk Out technology from Amazon Fresh stores in the U.S., after reports it was not living up to expectations
• Instead, Amazon will expand use of smart shopping carts with built-in scanners to track purchases
• The changes represent a shift under new CEO Andy Jassy toward profitability over innovation
• There are also signs Amazon is struggling in cloud computing and AI compared to rivals like Microsoft and Google
• While profits are up, slowing growth in key areas like AWS and loss of ecommerce market share raise concerns about Amazon's competitive advantages long-term