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The prospects of a real life Skynet could be diminishing before our very eyes, as Walmart continues to divest from robot technology in its stores, the WSJ reports.
Over the past year, Walmart has unplugged automated pickup towers that were used to fulfill online orders in 1,500+ stores. And in November, the company stopped using roving robots that kept track of inventory.
Why the change? Walmart ended a contract with Bossa Nova Robotics to focus on “simpler solutions” like human-powered curbside pickup and home delivery.
The reverse seems counterintuitive, as other companies invest in robotics (Kroger, Gap, Domino’s, Alibaba, Amazon—the list goes on). But aside from the potential for cyborgian world dominance, the proliferation of robots has its downsides.
- Walmart found humans could walk the aisles and collect products as effectively as the roving bots.
- Automated systems require expensive upkeep, so the tech must have a high ROI.
The takeaway: Robots aren’t going anywhere. Walmart is still testing new technologies, like AI-powered video cameras. And 64% of retailers believe it’s important to have a robotics automation strategy, per a Retail Wire/Brain Corp survey this month. — KM