Coles announces trial of AI-powered supermarket trolley

In an Australian first, Coles has revealed it will launch a trial of AI-powered trolleys that scan and track products in real time.

Coles is introducing a trial run of AI-powered smart trolleys that allows shoppers to track what they’re buying in real time and skip the queue altogether.

The trolleys, which don’t appear too out of the ordinary – minus the child seat, are fitted out with an interactive screen and a sensor that displays details such as product aisle numbers, in-store specials and tallies the total cost of a shop in real time.

Melbourne mum Rebecca Karo and son Imri with the Coles smart trolley. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Swapping out the child seat for a digital screen, the trolleys also come with an in-built scale for customers to weigh fresh produce and a payment terminal so they can pay for their items and skip the queue entirely.

The trolleys are also gasified for customers with a Coles App or Flybuys card, allowing them to “Spin the Wheel” for exclusive savings if they spend $50 or more in one transaction. According to Coles chief digital officer Ben Hassing, the smart trolleys are designed

to help customers “save time, manage their budget and checkout faster – or at their own pace”.

The smart trolley features AI-powered technology and sensors. Picture: NewsWire Handout

It’s a move intended to make sticking to budgets easier, Instacart chief connected stores officer David McIntosh said.

“With cost-of-living pressures top of mind, we’ve found customers especially love the way the digital screen on the trolley helps them to see their running total and manage their budget in real time along with discovering further discounts and money off their total by spinning the digital wheel,” he said.

The trial will launch in one Melbourne store to start, Coles Richmond Traders, in January 2025.