Amazon bought Whole Foods in 2017 for more than $13bn and in April introduced its palm-scanning payment technology at a store in Seattle. It will be the company’s first full-size test of its “Just Walk Out” system that lets customers shop and leave the store without standing in line at the check-out. The company has rejected labour union claims that it will see the elimination of cashier positions, arguing that it will allow staff to do other work in the store. Is technology making human beings “redundant objects” in the market ?

