Michigan Sam’s Club Stores Are Installing AI And You Probably Won’t Hate it

Artificial Intelligence is infiltrating many aspects of life and because the new technology brings with it so many unknowns, you may find yourself pooh-poohing the idea.

But AI technology being installed at Sam's Club stores in Michigan and throughout the US could be a welcomed change that may improve your shopping experience.

The Self-Checkout Process - Is it a Dying Breed?

Backlash against retailers who rely heavily on self-checkout kiosks has been mounting - to the point where some customers refuse to scan their own items at checkout. (As the husband of a Meijer employee, I hear numerous anecdotes about customers who say they prefer going to a human cashier over dealing with self-checkout lanes.)

Dollar General announced in 2023 that it would be cutting back on self-checkout, taking into account customer opinions and the fact that the process often leads to increased theft.

Walmart - while still heavily reliant on self-checkout kiosks - has trained employees to watch for customers who they believe are attempting to shoplift items and has deployed sneaky tactics in order to thwart theft.

Sam's Club Plans to Install AI by the end of 2024

Sam's Club stores throughout the United States have begun deploying artificial intelligence technology that will replace humans who check receipts as customers exit the stores. The AI tech confirms customers' purchases as they leave the store and is said to do so 23% faster than human employees.

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The new system has been rolled out at 120 Sam's Club locations throughout the US and the retailer confirms that it plans to deploy the new technology at all of its stores by the end of 2024.

Sam's Club currently operates 23 retail outlets in Michgian.