The foundation of Amazon’s AI technology is largely built on human contributions

Amazon.com Inc.’s artificial intelligence technology has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that the company heavily relies on offshore workers from India to make its AI systems function effectively. This revelation has sparked controversy surrounding AI’s potential and the ethical implications of Amazon’s business practices.

The tech giant announced that it will be discontinuing its “Just Walk Out” technology in Amazon Fresh stores. This technology, which claimed to use cameras and sensors to track items customers were leaving the store with, eliminating the need for physical cashiers, was found to be heavily dependent on human workers from India to track purchases that the AI system could not accurately identify.

According to a report from The Information, over 1,000 human workers from India were responsible for verifying the majority of purchases made using the Just Walk Out technology. This reliance on human labor raises questions about the effectiveness and reliability of AI systems in real-world applications.

Critics have pointed out that the technology seemed too advanced to be fully automated, with concerns about privacy and the accuracy of the system. The use of offshore workers for tasks that were marketed as being fully automated has raised ethical concerns about transparency and fair labor practices.

Despite this controversy, Amazon continues to use AI technology in its Amazon Go stores, sports stadiums, and some Amazon Fresh stores in the United Kingdom. As the company phases out the Just Walk Out technology, it plans to replace it with “Dash Carts,” which feature built-in checkout screens and scanners for a more traditional shopping experience. The revelation of Amazon’s reliance on human workers for its AI systems serves as a reminder of the complexities and ethical considerations involved in the development and implementation of artificial intelligence technology.