Morrisons has partnered with Instacart to launch a three-month trial of AI-powered Caper Cart smart shopping trolleys at its Preston Riversway store. Approximately 30 smart trolleys are currently available to the supermarket's loyalty members. Designed to replicate the convenience of online shopping in-store, the carts utilise edge AI cameras and sensors for instant item recognition. Integrated scales automatically weigh loose fresh produce, streamlining the in-store checkout process.
A digital touchscreen on the handlebar shows a real-time running total of your basket. Those using the trolley scan their Morrisons More Card at the outset, which links to it and instantly applies loyalty offers and tailored product suggestions as you navigate the aisles. Because customers can pack items into shopping bags inside the trolley as they browse, they can skip unloading onto a conveyor belt. Shoppers simply scan a barcode on the trolley screen at a designated checkout lane to settle up.
Shopper Criticism
While many customers are eager to test the new technology, some shoppers and even those claiming to be employees have raised questions about the funding of the new concept on Reddit. As the news was announced, one person wrote: "Seems to me they would rather invest in anything other than their staff!" Another, who appeared to be an employee, added: "So we can't afford to have two members of staff on so I have to lone work in a daily but we afford AI trolleys, need to sort their priorities out." A third, who also seemed to be a Morrisons employee, added: "Three months later, all the fancy new trolleys have been stolen, and now Morrisons have another reason they 'can't afford' to give us a pay rise.." While someone else added: "Sounds good but more staff, well paid happy empowered staff, stuff on shelves and working fridges and freezers is what I, as a customer want, more than this."
Company Response
A representative for Morrisons said: "This is a small scale trial in a single store. We continue to invest across our business, recently agreeing a new pay deal for our supermarket colleagues and doubling the store maintenance budget."
Why the AI Trolleys?
Unlike its key competitors such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose, Morrisons has traditionally not offered a handheld "Scan & Go" smart shopping system. Rather than creating a mobile app or a standalone device, they decided to leap ahead technologically by integrating everything straight into the trolley itself. Furthermore, internal figures released by Instacart suggest a compelling business case; academic studies indicate that customers using smart trolleys spend on average 32% more and remain in the store 23% longer because the screens actively promote multi-buy offers and new products.
Recent Job Cuts
Morrisons has initiated several major waves of staff redundancies and job consultations recently. The supermarket chain is undergoing a sweeping cost-cutting and automated restructuring process under CEO Rami Baitiéh to address its significant debt pile and adapt to rising business costs. The recent staff cuts span across various segments of the business. In April 2026, Morrisons launched a consultation to cut roughly 200 jobs at its Hilmore House headquarters in Bradford, impacting nearly 10% of the site's workforce. Management confirmed that these head office job losses are tied to a long-term central business overhaul aimed at automating manual tasks using data and artificial intelligence. This followed a restructure in March 2026 where 100 roles were put at risk when Morrisons merged its convenience store and supermarket buying teams. In April 2026, a "small number" of redundancies were made across its in-house Nutmeg clothing and homeware brand as part of a proposal to relocate the general merchandise division to a standalone office in Warrington. In May 2026, Morrisons announced plans to shut down 100 loss-making convenience stores (mostly former McColl's branches). While the company is attempting to redeploy staff, hundreds of shop workers are facing redundancy consultations as these stores close. The chain directly blamed rising costs from government policy choices like the National Living Wage hike. The retailer has also targeted underperforming in-store services. A major restructuring placed 365 roles at risk due to the closure of 52 in-store cafés, all 18 "Market Kitchen" canteens and 13 in-store florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters, and four pharmacies. While Morrisons maintains that it is trying to redeploy as many store-level staff as possible into alternative roles elsewhere in the business, hundreds of corporate and retail workers have been directly affected by these changes.
