UK Morrison is set to roll out artificial intelligence-powered shopping trolleys in one of its UK stores, with the trolleys expected to be introduced in early 2026.
Through a collaboration with grocery tech firm Instacart, the retailer will integrate AI-powered trolleys that feature interactive screens, integrated scales, and AI-powered sensors that guide customers in scanning and placing items directly into their baskets.
The trolleys allow customers to scan items as they shop, tracking their total payment balance in real-time.
The technology also enables the weighing of fresh produce directly in the trolley.
To complete their purchase, customers can scan the barcode displayed on the trolley screen at the store’s self-checkout area.
Morrisons customers will be able to use the smart trolleys as an integration with their Morrisons More Card loyalty programme.
While initially opening in one store, the retailer said that it may expand the technology to further stores in the future.
Gordon Macpherson, Morrisons’ director of productivity, said the move comes as the retailer continues to use innovation to merge the best of digital and physical commerce.
“We’re excited about bringing the first fully-integrated AI-powered trolleys in the UK to a first store soon and look forward to testing customer response and building understanding of how the technology works within the Morrisons store estate,” he continued.
Earlier this month, Waitrose began a small-scale trial of AI-vision technology in shopping trolleys at its Bracknell store in Berkshire. The company said that the move marked the first time a UK supermarket has adopted this technology.
Developed in collaboration with AI specialist Shopic and currently being tested at Waitrose’s Bracknell store, the device uses AI-based computer vision to automatically recognise items as they are added or removed from the trolley, without the need to scan barcodes.
The screen displays the updated total of purchases, keeping customers informed about their spending. It also offers personalised promotions and helps customers navigate the store to find specific items
Other retailers in Europe and the US, including Italian company Dimar and Walmart, have also recently rolled out the technology.
