Walmart's AI technology flags shameless customers who intentionally skipped scanning items at the self-checkout: Here's what happened

A Walmart shopper brazenly recorded herself stealing items from the self-checkout, unaware that the store's AI surveillance had caught her. Despite the embarrassment, she shared the footage on TikTok.

TikTok user Nesha posted a video of herself shoplifting at Walmart with the caption: “POV: When you don't normally get caught and now you're banned from all Walmarts in my area for two years.” This Video quickly went viral, reaching over 2.2 million views.

Walmart's AI-powered cameras catch the shoplifter

In the video, the woman scans a few items at a Walmart self-checkout machine, but then secretly puts a backpack in her bag without paying by pretending to scan it. An “employee is on the way” alert flashes on the computer screen, preventing the woman from scanning additional items or completing her purchase.

When a store employee arrives and scans the woman's card, the screen displays a “Missed Scan Detected” message and a video of the woman trying to hide the backpack from the scanner. Nesha turns the camera to show the employee covering her mouth and laughing at the situation.

“Even though she was laughing… she called the manager and the police and had us escorted outside,” Nesah wrote in the caption alongside “#stealinggonewrong.” A 2023 LendingTree survey found that 15 percent of shoppers intentionally stole items from self-checkouts, but only 33% of these thefts were reported.

As Gitnux reports, Walmart has implemented stricter theft protection measures to combat approximately $3 billion in theft losses per year. A new addition to its arsenal is artificial intelligence (AI), which helps identify potential shoplifters.

Missed Scan Detection, an AI-powered camera system introduced in 2017, helps Walmart reduce theft and inventory losses. However, as a recent incident in Detroit shows, AI technology is not flawless.

In July, the city agreed to pay $300,000 to Robert Williams, who was wrongly accused of shoplifting by its AI-powered facial recognition software. However, Walmart has other methods to prevent shoplifting.

The challenges of preventing shoplifting

The megastore chain recently introduced nearly invisible barcodes on its branded products. These barcodes allow items to be scanned by simply passing them through the scanning area, without the need to manually scan individual barcodes.

Walmart's new invisible barcode technology is the result of a $3 million partnership with Digimarc. Despite increased security measures, some Walmart stores still experienced high levels of theft, leading to the closure of self-checkout areas at certain locations.

However, the company claims that this is a broader attempt to improve the shopping experience. A Walmart spokesperson told The Post that the company “does not publicly disclose safety measures in our stores.”

It's important to note that Walmart doesn't ban everyone from not scanning items at self-checkout checkouts. Last month, a TikTok user explained that she sometimes skips scanning items because she is a Spark driver and is not required to scan each item individually.

Shoplifting is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. InVue suggests eight strategies to prevent shoplifting:

1. Maintain a well-organized store layout.
2. Implement effective inventory management.
3. Identify and secure high-risk items.
4. Post clear anti-theft signs.
5. Install reliable cameras and mirrors.
6. Use advanced anti-theft tools and devices.
7. Train your employees to be alert and responsive.
8. Use customer loyalty as a deterrent.

While Walmart continues to invest in anti-theft measures, shoplifting remains an ongoing challenge for the retail giant. As technology advances, new strategies to combat this problem will likely emerge. However, the ultimate responsibility for theft prevention lies with both the retailer and its customers.