Morrisons shoppers have been given a first glimpse of the supermarket’s futuristic new AI-powered trolleys – but many customers think they have already spotted a major flaw.
The high-tech trolleys have been photographed at Morrisons’ Riversway store in Preston ahead of a trial rollout, with images quickly sparking debate online.
A shopper who spotted the carts shared a photo on Reddit with the caption: “Fancy AI trolleys.”
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The new trolleys are fitted with touchscreens, sensors, built-in scales and cameras designed to automatically identify products as shoppers place them in their basket, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Customers will be able to scan items as they shop, weigh fruit and vegetables directly in the trolley and keep track of their spending in real time through an onboard screen.
The technology will also link to Morrisons More cards, allowing offers and discounts to be applied while customers move around the store.
But while some shoppers were impressed by the futuristic upgrade, others immediately questioned how long the expensive-looking trolleys would survive outside supermarkets.
One Reddit user wrote: “Trolleys with tablets on that will be left outside? Sure none of them will get stolen.”
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Another said: “So what happens when they find themselves in the local river or canal?”
A third added: “They’ll be stolen/broken/in the canal in a few days.”
The AI-powered carts are supplied by US technology company Instacart and are known as Caper Carts.
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They are already used by major retailers across the United States, including Kroger, Aldi, Coles and Sprouts, but Morrisons will become the first supermarket to introduce the technology in the UK.
The supermarket first announced plans for the trial last year, with the rollout now beginning at its Preston store.
According to Morrisons, the trolleys use a combination of AI cameras and built-in scales to recognise products as they are added.
Once shoppers have finished their trip, the trolley generates a barcode which can be scanned at a self-checkout to complete payment.
The system has also been designed with anti-theft technology.
If a customer attempts to leave the store without paying, the trolley will reportedly flash red to alert staff.
Instacart says the weatherproof carts are designed to be stored and operated like standard supermarket trolleys, with batteries charging automatically when grouped together.
Morrisons Productivity Director Gordon Macpherson previously said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to bring innovation to the weekly shop to enhance the experience for our customers.
“We’re excited about bringing the first fully-integrated AI-powered trolleys in the UK to a first store soon, and look forward to testing customer response and building understanding of how the technology works within the Morrisons store estate.”
The Preston trial is expected to be used to gauge customer reaction before any wider rollout across the supermarket’s store network.
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