Will you no longer need to search for weighed goods in self-service checkouts? Novelty being tested in Lithuania

Lithuanian shoppers may soon find it easier to identify weighed items at self-checkout kiosks, thanks to a new artificial intelligence (AI) technology being tested. The innovation aims to streamline the shopping process and reduce errors.

Developed by "StrongPoint," a company specializing in retail technology, the system employs a camera to capture products placed on the scale. An AI algorithm then analyzes the image and suggests the most probable matches from a product list. This feature is particularly helpful for items like fruits and vegetables, which previously required manual searching through long lists on the self-checkout screen.

According to Andrius Kalašinskas, a representative from "StrongPoint," this new system can help customers save an average of 10 seconds per item, potentially shortening overall shopping time. "Even a few saved seconds are important at self-checkout," Kalašinskas stated, emphasizing the goal of eliminating time wasted searching for products. The system currently recognizes about 30 commonly purchased fruits and vegetables with over 97% accuracy, and the AI continuously learns to improve its recognition capabilities.

Kalašinskas noted that distinguishing between similar items, such as different varieties of apples, presents a significant challenge. The technology must learn to identify subtle differences, and it also needs to recognize products through their packaging. "Rimi Lietuva" General Director Vaidas Lukoševičius added that the technology benefits both customers by providing speed and simplicity, and employees by reducing routine tasks, allowing them more time for customer consultations. The system is expected to eventually recognize baked goods as well.