Aldi store trials ditching scanners, cashiers and checkout lines for AI alternative

An Aldi store is trialling the removal of cashiers, scanners or checkouts, swapping people entirely for AI.

In what looks like it could be the future of supermarket shopping, a US branch of the budget store is now attempting to replace workers (and existing machines) with a new system called ALDIgo.

ALDIgo, which was created in collaboration with Grabango, is now fully working at the Aldi branch on 2275 West Galena Boulevard in Aurora, Illinois – and if it goes well, who knows how far it could spread?

Aldi's AI run store is has just launched in Illinois (Credit: Getty)

Payments Dive reports that ALDIgo doesn't change anything about how you shop, except for the fact that advanced computer vision cameras and ceiling mounted scanners records all your items as you add them to the cart.

Once you've filled your cart, you simply pay using a credit or debit card – or you can pay via the Grabango app, via a QR code.

The best part about this method is you can pay using Google Pay or Apple Pay, as you wish!

“The launch of ALDIgo is a pivotal moment for the grocery industry,”  Will Glaser, Grabango founder and CEO, said in a statement.

There will be no need to scan food (Credit: Getty)

“Although more challenging, it was important to us to launch this technology in a typical store and not one purpose-built for us.

"Aldi is one of the most innovative retailers in the world, and we are honored to partner with them to give their shoppers an exciting new way to shop the store.”

If anyone's been to an Amazon store, then this technology will sound familiar.

Aldi customers can pay at the end of use an app to settle up (Credit: Getty)

Essentially, this is pretty similar to their Just Walk Out tech, found in Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores, which prevents anybody having to scan items to reach a final bill.

Aldi hasn't revealed whether ALDIgo is set to be a larger endeavour should this Illinois store be a success.

When approached by USA Today, the chain had no comment about whether they'd be expanding the initiative to different locations, so we guess we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled for now!

Featured image: Getty