There is a report that a major big box store is wanting to automate more than half of its stores within the next 3 years. Could it really be true that robots will be taking over a major retailer in Missouri and Illinois? I would like to point out that this is how most of the Terminator movies started.

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No, this is not a bad movie script. The word about Walmart possibly automating everything in a large percentage of stores comes from a document shared with the SEC. It's a statement about their future including the following prediction:

By the end of Fiscal Year 2026, Walmart believes roughly 65% of stores will be serviced by automation, approximately 55% of the fulfillment center volume will move through automated facilities, and unit cost averages could improve by approximately 20%.

I am a certified computer technician along with being a nerd that says strange things on the radio. I say this because I do stay up on the latest tech developments. Frankly, I find the latest advances in artificial intelligence alarming.

While I appreciate the existence of self-checkouts, I can't say that I'm a fan of the stores keeping less lines open with real human beings, too. I am not an anti-Walmart person and have no problem with big box stores while also supporting the smaller local businesses. I fear that if predictions like this come true for Missouri and Illinois Walmart stores, it will make it even harder for mom and pop stores to compete.

I highly recommend reading Walmart's statement for yourself to see if you think this is a positive development.

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