*By Alisha Haridasani* Microsoft is reportedly exploring how to automate cashless check-out at brick-and-mortar retailers in a bid to challenge Amazon not just in-store but in the cloud. The technology would track what shoppers add to their carts and bill them automatically after they walk out of a store, according to a [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-store-exclusive/exclusive-microsoft-takes-aim-at-amazon-with-push-for-checkout-free-retail-idUSKBN1JA0D5) report on Microsoft's plans. The tech giant is in talks with Walmart and other retailers about potential collaborations, the report said, citing people familiar with the effort. Microsoft's effort to develop a new payment model comes almost five months after Amazon opened its first [Amazon Go](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/21/technology/inside-amazon-go-a-store-of-the-future.html) store in Seattle, where cameras and sensors track what shoppers pick up and then bills their online account, eliminating cashiers and the long lines that snake around them. Microsoft is exploring a number of ways it can make this payment system work, including installing cameras in shopping carts instead of on shelves, as Amazon does, said Jeffrey Dastin, the Reuters technology correspondent who first reported the story. "The reason that it has looked into this is, of course, that some of the technology that Amazon Go has introduced is a bit expensive," said Dastin. "This is a reaction to retailers not being so sold on the technology that Amazon has put forth and maybe this is a go-to-market strategy that's faster." Amazon’s new technology, and the potential to put it to use in its Whole Foods stores ー the online retailer acquired the grocery chain last year ー has scared other grocers who fear the combination of online disruption of retail and in-store convenience will further eat into their business. The challenge has prompted other players, including Walmart, to innovate their [online](https://cheddar.com/videos/jetblacks-competitive-advantage-time-savings-and-a-human-touch) and [in-store](https://cheddar.com/videos/walmart-upgrades-digital-services-to-boost-in-store-experiences) operations. Microsoft's decision to develop this technology is driven by its ambitions to boost its cloud business, said Dastin. "What Microsoft essentially is doing here is becoming more than just an IT provider and becoming a strategic ally to retailers," he said. The cameras and algorithms associated with the technology would ultimately use Microsoft's cloud business, but it would also provide retailers with data on consumers that can help them stay competitive, said Dastin. "This is securing cloud revenue growth and at the same time securing long-standing relationships with a major vertical." For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/microsoft-developing-cashierless-tech).

Share:
More In Technology
Actor Jesse Williams on Empowering BIPOC Careers Through the Assemble Platform
Online platform Assemble is looking to provide career instruction and inspiration to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) of all age groups for access to industries they might not have been privy to prior. Actor, activist, and one of Assemble's three co-founders, Jesse Williams, and CEO Cortney Woodruff joined Cheddar's "Between Bells" to discuss the Assemble mission and what people can expect from the program. "There's a lot of jobs that folks don't know even exist in the first place, and what we know is that there are incredible innovators at the peak of their field that are Black and brown – in every single field," Williams noted.
After Bitcoin Plunges Over the Weekend, Investors Prepare for Unpredictable Week for the Markets
Between uncertainty over the Omicron variant, and the possibility of a sooner-than-expected taper from the Fed, it was an especially volatile week for the markets. The release of the November jobs report on Friday, with job growth coming in way lower than estimates also caused movement on the market. Frances Stacy, Director of Strategy at Optimal Capital explains why all of this, combined with Bitcoin’s huge drop over the weekend, could make for another rough week for investors.
Instagram Rolls Out New Teen Safety Updates
Ahead of Instagram head Adam Mosseri's congressional hearing on the mental impact of the social platform on teens, the company announced a number of updates aimed at teen safety.
Why Commercial Planes Are Shrinking
Earlier this year, JetBlue flew its inaugural flight into the United Kingdom. It was a game changer — not only did the airline enter the transatlantic market, but the plane that completed the flight was a single-aisle jet. For decades, flying the distance was synonymous with jumbo jets, but today narrow-body aircraft are now proving they are up for the task — and maybe even the best option. In this episode, Cheddar examines why airlines are betting on narrow-body aircraft.
Spotify "Unwrapped' Shows How Our Data Is Collected
Spotify has just officially released its 2021 'Wrapped'. For the past few years, the streaming giant has been presenting customers with their listening habits from the prior year, including favorite artists, most listened to the genre, podcasts, songs you name it. However, critics say this method just shows how apps can collect our data. CEO of Prevailion Karim Hijazi, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
New Internal Documents Reveal TikTok's Addictive Algorithm
Recent internal documents obtained by the New York Times reveal how exactly TikTok's algorithm works. The report highlights how the app is mainly focused on retaining two metrics which are retention and time spent. In addition, the document titled, "TikTok Algo 101" details how the algorithm understands human nature from when we get bored to our sensitivity and culture ques. It means the app monitors will kind of videos you like. Professor of Computer Science at the University of California in San Diego Julian McCauley, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Load More