The 1,800-sq.-ft. store had previously been open only to Amazon employees as the company worked to ensure its Just Walk Out technology was free of any problems. On Jan. 22, the public was able to utilize the platform, which allows consumers, using an Amazon Go smartphone app connected to their Amazon account, to simply grab products off the shelf and walk out of the store.
Computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning technology automatically detects when products are taken or returned from shelves and keeps track of them in a virtual cart. When the consumer leaves the store, the items are automatically billed to the Amazon account.
The c-store has a heavy focus on ready-to-eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options, which are prepared by in-store chefs and local kitchens and bakeries. Also available are grocery essentials and chef-designed meal kits.
Where Amazon plans to go from here with its Just Walk Out technology is the big question. The company has refused to say if it will open more stores, use the technology in Whole Foods, or sell the technology to other retailers.
