Swedish AI Innovator Develops Barcode-Free Retail Checkout System

Tobias Pettersson, a doctoral researcher at ITAB, has created a pioneering AI technology that removes the need for barcodes in retail self-checkout systems. This system uses cameras combined with advanced image and text recognition to instantly identify products as customers place them on checkout surfaces. Pettersson emphasizes that the technology not only streamlines the consumer experience but also enhances retailer oversight by detecting shrinkage—inventory losses caused by theft or scanning errors—through real-time analysis of checkout behavior.

The solution can flag suspicious activity such as items being bagged without proper scanning, maintaining a frictionless process for shoppers while preventing loss. Beyond retail, the technology offers valuable applications in logistics and manufacturing, accurately verifying labeling details like batch numbers and expiration dates without workflow interruptions. It can also monitor shelf stock levels and organization to optimize sales.

Pettersson anticipates the technology's implementation in retail soon, noting that integration challenges, rather than AI capabilities, are the main hurdle. He envisions a future where traditional checkout methods coexist with this advanced system, potentially doing away with the barcode entirely. He is set to defend his dissertation on product recognition AI on January 23 at Högskolan i Skövde.