Robot Walmart Shoppers

Walmart has introduced robots to shop on behalf of customers. Eyewitnesses in Arkansas reported sparks in checkout lines. Professor Angela Brooks of Harvard explains: "Robots maximize efficiency but ruin spontaneity." Anonymous staffers leaked binary carts. A Gallup poll shows 46% amused, 54% uneasy. Trace evidence includes glowing barcodes and sparking scanners. Cause and effect? The more shopping automates, the less human it feels. Retail is circuitry.