Morrisons trials AI-powered smart trolley with scanning and weighing
Morrisons is trialing an AI-powered smart trolley that scans items and weighs loose produce, with mixed customer reactions during the test.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Morrisons has begun trialing an AI-powered smart trolley in one of its supermarkets in Preston, testing how customers respond to a cart that scans and weighs items as they shop.
The trolley works by linking to the shopper's loyalty card. As items are placed inside, barcode cameras read them and the screen totals the amount owed. Loose produce, such as bananas or butternut squash, is weighed automatically to ensure the right price is paid.
A reporter from the BBC tried the trolley and found it heavy to steer because of the battery. He also discovered a flaw: when adding five butternut squashes to the basket, he could tell the screen he had only taken one, and the trolley still allowed it. The weight check did not stop the mismatch.
Shoppers who used the trolley gave mostly positive feedback. One customer said they could keep track of everything and were very happy, calling it a great step forward. Another shopper at a rival supermarket, without the tech, said they would give it a go but would need instructions. Another said they would have nothing to do with AI at all.
A Morrisons spokesperson said the firm believes the technology must improve the customer experience and add value to the shopping trip. The company stressed the trial is to learn what customers think and that it may make adaptations. It said the trolley would not replace traditional trolleys or workers.
The trial is taking place in a store in Preston. The company is one of several grocers using AI behind the scenes for delivery routes, stock monitoring and checkout staffing, but this is one of the first attempts to combine AI with a physical trolley for shoppers.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Morrisons is trialling an AI-powered smart trolley in Preston that weighs loose items for accurate pricing, though a reporter found an item-counting flaw. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC report takes a practical, hands-on approach, sending a reporter to test the trolley and highlight both its convenience and a security flaw. It balances the company's optimistic statement with shopper scepticism, giving an objective but critical look at the technology.
- “The trolley is gonna go green when they end up in the trolley and it's gonna tot up the amount I owe as I go round.”
- “It has allowed me to add five, although I've only said I've added one here. Oh, dear.”
- “We believe that this is an opportunity for technology that does that.”
Broadcast Timeline
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