No one is (very likely) losing their job, customers will benefit, and will buy more in the process.
Now, if only Lowes/Home Depot would do this!!
Hawkwin
Who often roams the corridors of Lowes trying to find some random item.
3 Likes
Not sure what this means. Home Depot and Loweâs have had the capability to locate items within their app for years. Open the app, search for the item, it will tell you how many are in stock and in what aisle and bin itâs in.
No âAIâ required, just an inventory control system. And yes, if you find one thing it may suggest options or additions.
Am I missing something?
6 Likes
Wal-Mart has been laying off people at slow clips, numbers small enough that allows it not to publish or warrant attraction. But they add up, the company is reshaping itself and the corporate workforce. I wish someone does a story on that.
1 Like
As I understand it, the new functionality is you can tell it what you are planning - say thanksgiving dinner for 8 or installing a new sink (in the case of Lowes) and it will tell you everything you need and where to find it.
Sorry meant to edit it rather than delete it!
I was saying for those who know there way around a grocery store, we have the aisles memorized in terms of what is located, and where it is in the store. So there is not much need for an app or AI to locate the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner. Those who donât know where things are and somehow are suddenly in charge of purchasing all the items needed for preparing a Thanksgiving dinner probably shouldnât be cooking that important of a meal in the first place.
BB
5 Likes
You are making a faulty assumption that the person buying is necessarily the person cooking.
Bottom line, Walmart obviously spent time and money on this solution and they found it increases sales and are now implementing it.
God, thatâs even scarier! The non-cook is buying for the cook. I wouldnât want to attend that Thanksgiving dinner. I want somebody who touches the food, does the food prep, knows the recipe inside out, and has done the bird and the stuffing and all the other sides before picking and choosing what goes in the basket.
Then again, wife and I are huge foodies. Nobody shops for us. We are 100% hands onâŚ.
BB
4 Likes
If you assume the cook is buying at the restaurant⌠or sometimes, the cook just need the kitchen or house for themselves⌠they can always ask for âcinnamon flavoured nutmegâ
1 Like
So you end up shopping for her???
Nope. She picks up every fruit and vegetable and inspects them like an investigator looking for clues. I do the same for the meals that I prepare, but to a lesser degree when it comes to actually handling every single piece of fruit and vegetable. We both love to cook, but she is a caterer so is very particular. She has taught me well over the past 35+ plus year. 
I guess our opinions on AI shopping equate the same for the past decade or more when we see grocery clerks filling carts for online orders to be picked up by the customer or delivered to the customer. Takes the âthrill of the huntâ out of cooking. Fine for some people, but not in our kitchen.
Point being, I doubt the AI shopping tools are much of a game changer for many households compared to looking up a recipe, making a shopping list, and heading to the store to acquire what is needed. Agree it is at least one nice additional tool to have for those who need it and donât know there way around a grocery store.
BB
2 Likes
I may not be as picky as your wife, but every tomato, apple, celery, artichoke, or other is hand inspected by me, and probably 30% fail.
I canât imagine delegating that to someone unknown (particularly at that wage/skill level), not to mention the ability to âsubstituteâ if a product I want isnât on the shelf. Apparently a lot of folks donât mind. I am in the cohort that does.
4 Likes
Itâs best for spouses to shop together for fruits and veggies at the supermarket.
7 Likes
Too funny! I must try that technique out next time I go shopping with my wife. Itâs always the avocado selection where things break down between us. At least I can use AI on my phone to identify what I am looking at in the exotic fruits and vegetable section.
BB
Hmm! Does this mean McDonaldâs with âWould you like fries with that?â was ahead of AI? If so, way cheaper!!