Will AI replace Cashiers?

AI can do 35% of the work Cashiers do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 28 tasks, while 13 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 9 physical tasks. 4 still need a person.

AI is already doing this2 · 12% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints.Mostly automated7% of time
  • Answer customers' questions, and provide information on procedures or policies.Mostly automated5% of time

AI could do this next13 · 23% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.7% of time
  • Help customers find the location of products.4% of time
  • Count money in cash drawers at the beginning of shifts to ensure that amounts are correct and that there is adequate change.2% of time
  • Calculate total payments received during a time period, and reconcile this with total sales.2% of time
  • Compute and record totals of transactions.2% of time
  • Request information or assistance, using paging systems.2% of time
  • Monitor checkout stations to ensure they have adequate cash available and are staffed appropriately.2% of time
  • Offer customers carry-out service at the completion of transactions.2% of time
  • Answer incoming phone calls.2% of time
  • Cash checks for customers.under 1% of time
  • Keep periodic balance sheets of amounts and numbers of transactions.under 1% of time
  • Compile and maintain non-monetary reports and records.under 1% of time
  • Post charges against guests' or patients' accounts.under 1% of time

Robots can technically do this9 · 53% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.Robots: structured workplaces21% of time
  • Establish or identify prices of goods, services, or admission, and tabulate bills, using calculators, cash registers, or optical price scanners.Robots: purpose built settings14% of time
  • Bag, box, wrap, or gift-wrap merchandise, and prepare packages for shipment.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Assist with duties in other areas of the store, such as monitoring fitting rooms or bagging and carrying out customers' items.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Stock shelves, sort and reshelve returned items, and mark prices on items and shelves.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Issue trading stamps, and redeem food stamps and coupons.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Weigh items sold by weight to determine prices.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Sell tickets and other items to customers.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Sort, count, and wrap currency and coins.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time

Still needs a person4 · 12% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Greet customers entering establishments.5% of time
  • Maintain clean and orderly checkout areas, and complete other general cleaning duties, such as mopping floors and emptying trash cans.4% of time
  • Process merchandise returns and exchanges.2% of time
  • Supervise others and provide on-the-job training.2% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

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What this means

AI can speed up parts of this job, mostly the paperwork and information work around it. The core still depends on hands, presence or relationships. Robots are the other change to watch: they can technically do 65% of the working time.

What to do next

  • Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 13 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 9 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 4 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers78%Parts Salespersons38%Retail Salespersons61%Counter and Rental Clerks87%Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers42%Models50%

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