SNL brilliantly spoofs Amazon Just Walk Out technology
A sketch from this week’s Saturday Night Live, which was hosted by The Batman star Zoë Kravitz, featured Amazon Go, the online giant’s chain of checkout-free convenience stores. And it was glorious.
A spoof commercial shows Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology in action.
“Just grab what you want, put it in your bag, and walk out!” voiceover lady says.
Whilst Amazon Go is a hit with white people, another demographic has an issue with the idea of taking items and walking out of a store without paying at a traditional checkout.
“Oh, you want me to just take something and walk out?” asks a character played by Kenan Thompson. “Nah, son.”
“But it’s so convenient!” voiceover lady insists.
“Nice try,” counters Thompson.
This innovation is made possible due to artificial intelligence and sensor technology, it is explained.
“So where do you pay?” says a bemused woman played by Punkie Johnson.
“You don’t!” voiceover lady responds.
“No, I do. I always pay! Who do you think I am?” Johnson states.
Meanwhile, a suspicious young woman (Kravitz) has her white boyfriend (Andrew Dismukes) grab her favourite kombucha off the shelf.
“Go ahead,” voiceover lady tells Thompson. “Leave. Just walk out.”
He exits with a bag of crisps and holding cash in the air, insisting on leaving behind a few bucks (a “tip,” he shouts out).
Amazon Fresh stores
Amazon recently opened an Amazon Fresh store in Kensington, London, powered by Just Walk Out technology.
Located at 138 Kensington High Street, this is the 17th such location in the UK, lining up alongside the likes of Southwark, Camden, Ealing, White City Canary Wharf and Holborn Chancery Lane.
