German supermarket retailer EDEKA Paschmann is rolling out AI technology at self-service checkouts to address errors at its stores in Düsseldorf.

The move is designed to tackle both unintentional and deliberate errors, with the system also equipped with automatic, AI-powered age verification.

The new tool, which is developed by Diebold Nixdorf, uses cameras to analyse customer behaviour and activities at the self-service checkout in real time.

If the system detects a missed scan or incorrect operation, customers receive a nudge via a message on the checkout display informing them that an item has not been scanned correctly.

Once the shopper self-rectifies and scans the product which was missed, the transaction continues.

Employees are only informed if the system displays another error message, so they can provide support to complete the checkout process correctly.

The screens also display short, real-time video sequences of the anomaly detected by the system to demonstrate the correct process to customers.

The AI-powered age verification system uses a consumer-facing camera and sophisticated algorithm for age-restricted items like alcohol.

The tool does not involve facial recognition or the storage of images or other customer information.

"The well-being of our customers is a high priority,” said Falk Paschmann, managing director of EDEKA Paschmann. “We want to make the shopping experience as appealing as possible for them with state-of-the-art store technology. This also applies to the payment process.”

Paschmann added that the new technology is making the self-service area “even more attractive” as it gives customers the assurance that all transactions are carried out correctly and, in the case of age-restricted goods, more quickly.

The company also has future plans to use AI for automatic recognition of fruit and vegetables.

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