Amazon’s automated checkout system, Just Walk Out, will be utilized at Loyola’s market. 

Loyola students and Sodexo market workers alike have garnered their own thoughts on this development. Implied in its name, Just Walk Out facilitates contactless transactions without the need for an in-store cashier, allowing for quick grab-and-go purchases. This new feature raises questions regarding what this means for current Sodexo employees and the ethical implications of using artificial intelligence. 

Sodexo employee Talaka Harris shared her thoughts on the market’s transformation. 

“It is a challenge right now because [the market] is not fully opened. We’re trying to put stuff in the system, but it’s a challenge because we don’t have accurate prices,” Harris said. “We’re opening up along with the store, so we don’t have a full understanding of what is happening.”

The market’s contactless system also raises many questions about how present the Sodexo employees will be in the store. 

“We won’t be in the store [as much] because it’ll be self-service,” said Harris. “We’re not supposed to be in a point-of-contact.”

Sodexo market workers relayed student opinions comparing the old market and its new development. A number of students found the previous market’s interior design to appear friendly, resembling a neighborhood market, while its new look is not as welcoming. 

Freshman biology major Amy Sierra said, “I like the new market because it has a lot of new snacks, and it looks nice… [like a] modern grocery store.”

Many of the students shared how the previous market fostered communication between the cashiers and their patrons, but the new checkout system reduces human interaction with the absence of in-store workers. 

“Benefits could include speedy checkout, no wait time, no line,” said freshman marketing major Addison Eth. “Negatives include overcharging or possibly students being able to hide certain items and the [AI system] not charging them for it.”

Freshman biology major Amy Sierra said, “I like the new market because it has a lot of new snacks, and it looks nice… [like a] modern grocery store.”

As one of the main student resources at Loyola, students expressed their appreciation for the Sodexo market employees and the work they do. 

“I find that the ladies that work in the market are very hardworking,” said sophomore Nicole Mauke, an English major and theatre minor. “They are very patient with not only the long lines of students but also the technical difficulties of the system they use.”

Mauke reflected on the moments she spent in the market. 

“When there’s a long line and I get antsy… they are always there at the end apologizing for the wait and making a joke or two. My interactions with them always replace my thoughts about how long the line was,” said Mauke. “They enhance my experience in the market tenfold.”

Sophomore English major and theatre minor Valentina Russell shared her experience with the market workers. 

“I really appreciate the ladies who work in the market,” said Russell. “They’re always so sweet and ask about my day and how I’m doing. It’s nice to be able to go someplace and be greeted by a friendly face.”

Students are hesitant about AI’s presence in the future of the job market, especially with its gradual integration into their day-to-day lives. 

“I don’t feel good about AI in the job market,” said Junior An Nguyen, a digital communications major and marketing minor, reflecting on how AI has progressed. “AI [should be used] as a tool instead of fully relying on it because AI could never fully replicate human intelligence and creativity.”

The presence of AI in the job market also poses questions regarding the availability of human-needed jobs in the future. 

“I have a strong dislike for AI taking over the job market because that creates less work for the people, and the prediction is that we will work less and still have money, but we all know that isn’t possible, or realistic,” Eth said.

Loyola administration and Sodexo did not respond to requests for comment regarding the market’s developments. 

While the market’s opening is still undergoing changes, the Loyola community continues to develop their own thoughts about what the Just Walk Out system will entail for Loyola.