Morrisons has become the first UK retailer to deploy Instacart's AI-powered Caper smart trolleys, according to Retail Times. The trolleys use computer vision and sensors to let shoppers scan and pay for items as they add them, bypassing traditional checkout queues.
The deployment reflects a broader shift in grocery retail toward smart cart technology, which helps retailers reduce friction, gather real-time data, and offer personalized promotions. While traditional barcode scanning remains standard in most stores, AI-enabled carts like Caper aim to complement existing systems by recognizing products through cameras and built-in scales, potentially reducing reliance on manual scanning.
Morrisons will initially introduce the Caper carts in a small number of stores, with a broader rollout planned based on customer feedback. Instacart, which acquired Caper in 2021, has already deployed the smart trolleys with several US retailers, and the Morrisons partnership marks the company's first international deployment. The carts also feature interactive screens that can display targeted offers and ads, creating new revenue opportunities for the supermarket.