Amazon says it will roll out its biometric palm-recognition technology to its more than 500 Whole Foods Markets stores in the United States this year.
- The technology, called “Amazon One,” lets registered users confirm their identity and pay for items by holding a hand over a scanning device. Users connect a payment method when signing up.
- Amazon One is currently available in more than 200 Whole Foods stores. The technology debuted in 2020 at the original Amazon Go store in Seattle.
- The company also offers Amazon One to third-parties. The technology is installed in 400 total locations in U.S., including stadiums, airport retailers, and restaurants. Amazon reports more than 3 million uses of Amazon One.
- Amazon says it “will never share palm data with third parties, under any circumstance, including in response to government demands, unless we’re required to comply with a legally valid and binding order.”
- Amazon bought Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion in 2017.
