British supermarket chain introduces AI-powered ROBOTS in stores

• British supermarket chain Morrisons has deployed autonomous Tally robots in three U.K. stores (Wetherby, Redcar and Stockton) to monitor stock levels, highlighting retail’s shift toward automation.
• Developed by Simbe Robotics, Tally uses AI and computer vision to scan shelves for out-of-stock items, pricing errors and misplaced products with 99 percent accuracy, processing up to 30,000 items per hour.
• While Morrisons claims Tally frees staff to focus on customer service, critics raise concerns about job security and reduced human interaction, especially amid recent store closures affecting 365 employees.
• Similar moves by retailers like Sainsbury’s (self-checkout systems) and John Lewis (AI age verification) reflect an industry-wide push for digitization, sparking debates over convenience versus human connection.
• Some shoppers criticize automation for eroding personal interactions, echoing past backlash (e.g., Morrisons’ “Buzz for Booze” policy), as the balance between efficiency and traditional service remains contentious.

British supermarket chain Morrisons has introduced “Tally” robots in three of its U.K. stores. The introduction of these sleek, autonomous machines designed to monitor stock levels underscores the growing influence of automation in retail.

Three Morrisons locations – Wetherby, Redcar and Stockton – were the first ones to see Tally robots down their grocery aisles. San Francisco-based Simbe Robotics was responsible for developing these five-feet-four-tall robots.

Tally uses artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to scan shelves for out-of-stock items, pricing errors and misplaced products – a task Morrisons describes as “crucial but time-consuming.” It can navigate aisles independently, capturing up to 30,000 products per hour with 99 percent accuracy. Designed to be unobtrusive, they feature “polite, friendly faces” and can self-dock to recharge when needed. (Related: Meet Tally, the grocery store shelf auditing robot that’s going to put thousands of low-wage grocery workers out of a job.)

Katherine Allanach, technology manager for the supermarket chain, told The Grocer that the robots aim to streamline operations, allowing staff to dedicate more time to assisting shoppers. Simbe Robotics meanwhile emphasized that Tally is not a surveillance tool, but rather a tool for inventory management. Major retailers like Carrefour and Kroger had already used Tally robots prior to Morrisons.

Robots in retail: The unstoppable march of grocery automation

While the company insists the robots will free up employees to focus on customer service, the rollout comes amid broader concerns about job security and the erosion of human interaction in retail spaces. The timing of the trial has also raised eyebrows.

Morrisons recently announced the closure of dozens of cafes and stores, putting 365 jobs at risk, though the company claims most affected employees will be reassigned. Critics argue that automation, while efficient, may further reduce human roles in an industry already grappling with cost-cutting measures.

Similar concerns have emerged elsewhere. Last year, British supermarket chain Sainsbury’s partnered with Atlanta-based NCR Voyix to overhaul its checkout systems. Department store chain John Lewis meanwhile implemented AI-powered age verification for online knife sales.

These shifts reflect a broader retail trend toward digitization, one that has drawn mixed reactions from consumers. Public sentiment remains divided, with some shoppers appreciating the efficiency of new technologies and others lamenting the loss of personal interaction.

One Facebook user criticized the idea of robotic replacements, writing: “I would always go to a till with a person, having a small chat with them. [I] can’t do that with a computer.” Another on X questioned whether the trade-off for convenience was worth sacrificing human connection.

Such concerns echo past controversies, including Morrisons’ much-mocked “Buzz for Booze” buttons, which required customers to summon staff for alcohol purchases. The policy subsequently backfired, with shoppers calling it “an absolute joke.”

As Morrisons and other retailers continue to experiment with automation, the debate over technology’s role in everyday commerce shows no sign of slowing. While AI and robotics promise increased efficiency and cost savings, they also challenge traditional notions of service and employment. For now, Tally’s trial offers a glimpse into a future where human cashiers and stock checkers may no longer be the norm.

Grocery.news has more related stories.

Watch this clip that discusses how grocery stores like Walmart adopted robots during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This video is from the ZGoldenReport channel on Brighteon.com.

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Coming soon: Mini robot grocery stores.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

RetailGazette.co.uk

Metro.co.uk

Brighteon.com