Appreciation post: I saw a 'smart' grocery cart in Seattle that tried to upsell me based on my produce

I was at a new market in Seattle last week (the one on 3rd Avenue, you know the one) and they had these carts with little screens. I put a bag of apples in, and the screen immediately suggested I buy caramel dip. Then I added lettuce, and it showed me a coupon for ranch dressing. It felt like the cart was judging my life choices (which, fair). The whole thing ran on some basic AI that just matched items from a database, but it was so eager. Has anyone else run into these pushy carts, and do they ever get it right?

2 comments

2 Comments

mary_schmidt11d ago

Ignore the screen and stick to your list. Those suggestions are just random database matches, not real help. I ended up with weird combos I never wanted.

davis.gavin11d ago

Honestly, I feel that. Last week the screen told me to put chili powder in my oatmeal. Like, who even programs these things? I made it once just to see, and it tasted like a sad campfire. Now I just use my notes app and pretend the suggestions don't exist.