New York City’s Whole Foods shoppers have encountered a novel payment method that streamlines grocery transactions by allowing a simple wave of the hand. The system, known as Amazon One, has been notably spotted at select locations and aims to eliminate traditional payment forms such as card swiping or smartphone tapping.
Introduced by the e-commerce giant, Amazon One promises a wallet-free, phone-free checkout experience. Utilizing advanced biometrc technology, Amazon asserts that the system’s touchless feature offers an unprecedented level of convenience.
“It’s something I’ve never observed before,” admitted Christian Keenan, 28, expressing his surprise during a trip to Wall Street’s Whole Foods. In contrast, 60-year-old Troy Bechet from Bryant Park conveyed skepticism, stating, “It doesn’t unnerve me, but I need to understand it better before using it.”
Conversely, MJ Jervinsky, 47, becomes an early adopter, utilizing the technology since autumn. “I find it effortless and have no issue with it collecting my data,” Jervinsky shared, also appreciating the added benefit of age verification embedded within the system’s information capture.
The technology itself is sophisticated, employing a dual-approach that assesses both the individual’s skin texture and the unique pattern of veins. Once scanned, this “palm signature” is linked directly to the customer’s Amazon Prime account, encompassing their payment details.
The project, initiated in 2020, was publicly announced by Amazon to be slated for a broader rollout by year-end. Today, Amazon One is a fixture in all Whole Foods across the nation and extends its reach to additional establishments, including Newark Airport’s Hudson Non-stop store in Terminal A, several Crunch Fitness centers in New York City, and various stadiums across the country.
