[chadcmulligan]

But they're not robots - they've just outsourced the checkout job to the customer and made it so they require minimal training. Technology has made this easier, but it's not robotics.

[HermanMartinus]

It depends on how you define “robotics”. It’s physical technology that has displaced workers, even if it doesn’t have mechanical arms.

That being said, I think the robots that have taken peoples jobs are generally in warehouses and manufacturing and hidden away from the public eye. Think Amazon fulfilment centres, or auto manufacturers. There are a lot of robotics at play there replacing a lot of people.

[samemail88]

Yes, I agree. All these kiosks and self checkout machines aren't what I think of when I think robots/automation. More like automating the job to the customer. Its equivalent of saying the software writing has been automated but in reality, its been outsourced to folks to India.

[lupire]

There are too kinds of automatic: logic automation to replace worker training, and physical automation to replace worker movement.

Self checkout is logic automation, making the checkout job easy enough that customer can be trusted to do it.

Checkout used to have two jobs: a checker and a customer standing around waiting. Self-checkout merged those two jobs into one.

[Teever]

Three jobs in many instances actually. The bag boy would put the products into bags and possibly walk it out to your car.

[mdrzn]

This is a US-only thing as far as I know.

[tough]

Mexico has those too