Using computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning to detect when items are taken off and put back on the shelf, Amazon Go is the first futurist grocery store of its kind. Shoppers are only required to have the Amazon Go app installed to walk inside, then folks can freely walk around grabbing items as they wish.
After a customer has left the store, Amazon will simply charge that person's Amazon account for the items they purchase.
Amazon explains:
"Our checkout-free shopping experience is made possible by the same types of technologies used in self-driving cars: computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning. Our Just Walk Out technology automatically detects when products are taken from or returned to the shelves and keeps track of them in a virtual cart. When you’re done shopping, you can just leave the store. Shortly after, we’ll charge your Amazon account and send you a receipt."
As mentioned before, Amazon Go is currently only available to the company's employees. A full launch of Seattle's Amazon Go store is scheduled for early-2017, with more stores planned around the US.
