120 Sam's Club stores now using AI to check receipts at exits. Here's how it works

Sam's Club has begun rolling out artificial intelligence-powered technology at select locations that confirm members' purchases as they exit the stores.

Here's what we know.

Sam's Club deploys AI-powered exit technology

The new verification technology, which replaces physical receipt checks, has so far been deployed at 120 Sam's Club locations across the U.S. The Walmart-owned bulk retailer said in a Tuesday press release that more than half of the customers have used the option at stores where the technology is available, which has helped members leave clubs 23% faster.

After reviewing consumer feedback, Sam's Club executives began searching for an alternative to queuing for receipt verification, which resulted in congestion at the stores' exits.

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First unveiled in January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the AI technology is slated to be implemented at all of Sam's Club's nearly 600 stores by the end of the year.

"I’m incredibly proud of the innovation and dedication of our team to deploy this member experience technology," Todd Garner, Sam's Club chief product officer, said in a statement.

How does Sam's Club AI work?

The AI technology is a new way for Sam's Club to confirm its members have paid for the items in their shopping cart without requiring them to wait in line for an employee to manually check their receipts.

The new feature blends with Sam's Club Scan and Go app, which allows shoppers to ring up and pay for their own orders as they fill their carts. After shoppers complete their checkout at a register or with the app, they can exit through blue gateways armed with cameras and scanners that take an inventory of the products in their carts and compare them to their orders.

Which other stores use AI?

There are a few other retailers who have scan-and-go apps, where customers scan their items as they shop and then pay in the app.

Amazon has also been working to expand its "Just Walk Out" technology at its stores and third-party retailers like airports and sports stadiums. The technology, which debuted in 2018, uses artificial intelligence, cameras and some sensors to enable shoppers to grab what they want and leave without stopping at a cash register.

The Just Walk Out feature allows customers to walk into a store using Amazon One, a credit or debit card, or a mobile wallet app to shop for items and leave. Cameras and sensors on shelves work with artificial intelligence to see what customers take or put back in order to automatically charge them for their purchases.

In addition to scan-and-go technology, retailers are working to restrict who can use self-checkout. Some Walmart locations now require Walmart+ memberships, and a handful of Target and Costco stores are enforcing the "10 items or less" rule for self-checkout.

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How many Sam's Clubs does Texas have?

Texas currently has 82 locations throughout the Lone Star state.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Sam's Club deploys AI tech at 120 stores to check receipts at exits