The Complex Reality Behind Just Walk Out Shops
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Amazon's "just walk out" cashier-free shops actually rely on hundreds of human workers watching cameras and reviewing purchases. This shouldn't be surprising given the history of "fake robot" technology.
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Replacing cashiers with remote workers allows companies like Amazon to significantly cut labor costs, contributing to vast wealth inequality.
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The "fake robot" trope distracts from Amazon supplying cloud and AI tech to the Israeli military.
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Tesco's similar checkout-free shops rely on technology from Trigo, an Israeli startup staffed by military surveillance experts.
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This history of consumer-facing "AI" enabling remote weaponry and oppression should make us deeply skeptical of claims that new technology inherently benefits society.