Quick Eats, Tulane University’s convenience store, operates on a walk-in, walk-out system, which incorporates cameras along with AI systems. Shoppers simply scan a QR code in the Grubhub app or use their credit card to enter, before choosing what they would like and walking out without interacting with a cashier.
While the implementation of this system makes shopping quicker, AI-based stores are raising concerns about data privacy and economic equity as Tulane’s campus becomes increasingly digitized.
Walk-in, walk-out stores operate with cameras tracking patrons around every square inch of the store, while collecting personal data on their account details, credit card information and shopping behavior.
“To operate Quick Eats, we utilize stock tracking and computer vision technology from Adroit Worldwide Media, a leader in the frictionless shopping industry. Our cameras do not retain personally identifiable information,” Tulane Hospitality representatives said in a statement.
When it first opened, Quick Eats displayed paper price tags for all its products. Now, all products are marked by new digital price tags, which led some students to believe the store was marking up prices in real-time based on popularity and customer data — a practice known as dynamic pricing.
Representatives from Tulane Hospitality denied using dynamic pricing at Quick Eats.
“We do not use dynamic pricing and do not change prices based on individual customers in our store. Prices are updated during closures, or times when no customers are in the store,” representatives said.
Quick Eats maintains records of transactions, but said that the practice was in line with industry standards.
“We do maintain records for transaction receipts, like any other convenience store. These are only used to help us provide better customer service for any issues that may arise during a customer’s shopping experience.”
Tulane Hospitality representatives said there are no plans at this time to adopt dynamic pricing, but they “are always investigating ways to implement new technologies to enhance the on-campus experience for Tulane students.”
“I don’t think it’s misleading, but I think subconsciously you’re probably buying more than you would if you actually saw the numbers at checkout,” sophomore Ava Katz said.