It seems like something out of a science fiction movie: entering a store with the scan of a palm, grabbing an item and walking out.

“It just doesn’t seem possible,” said Julia Buck, a sophomore criminology major.

But it is possible. Flash Bistro in the Student Center recently underwent a renovation, outfitting the store with Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.

Now, customers only need an Amazon One palm print, tap of a credit card or a Flashcard to make purchases. As they walk through the store, they grab items they want and leave. There are no cashiers or self-checkouts.

The transformation was part of a plan from Culinary Services to incorporate new technology into its stores, said Kristin Burney, assistant director of retail.

“We got a lot of like, ‘It feels like I’m stealing,’ but I think once they left, and they got their receipt and they saw that was accurate, it was a little more comfortable,” Burney said.

The store is equipped with dozens of cameras that track customers as they navigate the space. If a group enters, the cameras still track each individual but charge the account of whoever tapped the group in.

Scales built into product shelves monitor which products are taken, that way the correct amount is charged to the customer. The shelves also double as a way to help Culinary Services have an accurate understanding of which products students use the most, that way they can better stock supply.

While students can use their Flashcards at the store, the cameras do not use facial recognition or photos in the school’s database. Instead, a combination of computer vision, sensor fusion and generative AI make the technology possible.

Products in the store are the same in every campus market and do not come from Amazon. Burney said she hopes the convenience the store offers students, such as no lines and later hours, will draw more customers.

Alton Northup is editor-in-chief. Contact him at [email protected].