‘They make life much easier’: AI-powered shopping trolleys go on trial in Lancashire

In Lancashire, Morrisons has become the first UK supermarket to test AI-powered shopping trolleys that scan, weigh and calculate costs for customers. The Morrisons store in Preston is the first city in Britain to trial the technology, located at Ashton-on-Ribble, west of the city. The innovative smart trolleys, developed by San Francisco-based Instacart, automatically register items placed in the trolley, tally the cost and suggest related products while shoppers browse.

Upon completing their shopping, customers can scan their trolley screen instead of checking out at a traditional checkout.

The trolleys have been successful in over 100 cities worldwide, with similar models used in Amazon Fresh stores. Morrisons is optimistic that the smart trolleys will become common in supermarkets across the country. The technology is particularly beneficial for individuals like Matthew Byrne, who is autistic and finds the trolleys helpful in managing his shopping lists. Byrne reported that the trolleys have helped him stick to his £80 budget by providing a real-time visual of what he's purchased.

While some customers, like Kaz Bond, were initially impressed with the convenience, they experienced difficulty using the technology due to device issues. Bond commended the smart trolleys for simplifying the shopping process and stated they would likely become commonplace in the future. Debbie Files, who tried the trolleys with assistance from a Morrisons employee, initially found the experience confusing but eventually adapted.

She noted that the trolleys can be challenging to maneuver and suggested a smaller version might encourage wider use.