I saw this news item this past week: “Today Amazon is
opening its first grocery store to pilot the use of the retailer’s cashierless
“Just Walk Out” technology that has previously powered 25 Amazon Go convenience
stores in a handful of major U.S. metros. Based in Amazon’s hometown of
Seattle, the new Amazon Go Grocery store allows customers to shop for everyday
grocery items like fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery items, household
essentials, dairy, easy-to-make dinner options, beer, wine and spirits, and
more. The store is 7,700 square feet in the front of the house and 10,400
square feet overall, making it the largest use of Amazon’s Just Walk Out
technology to date.
“As with Amazon Go convenience stores, shoppers first
use the Amazon Go app to scan in as they enter the store, then shop as usual.
Cameras and sensors track the items removed from the shelves which are then
added to the shopper’s virtual cart. When the customer exits the store, their
cart is checked out automatically using their payment card on file. The end
result is a grocery store with no lines or waiting. Meanwhile, store staff are
freed up to take care of other aspects of the business like restocking shelves
and customer service.”*
Technology can be a
blessing and a curse. I suppose in this case the blessings come in the form of
corporate savings due to lower employee costs.
But I wonder if the loss of the “human touch” could also become a curse
for our culture. Digital technology and
artificial intelligence are making it increasingly easy to avoid human
interaction. While the introverts among
us may view that as a plus, I think we need to be vigilant that we don’t
sacrifice too much on the altar of efficiency.
The body of Christ is
designed to be a relational organism.
I’m not advocating a return to the days of catacombs and parchment, but
just reminding us that the personal touch is vital to our mission.
God loves you!
Mike
*https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/25/amazon-opens-its-first-cashierless-grocery-store/
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