We release a realistic, diverse, and challenging dataset for object detection on images. The data was recorded at a beer tent in Germany and consists of 15 different categories of food and drink items. We created more than 2,500 object annotations by hand for 1,110 images captured by a video camera above the checkout. We further make available the remaining 600GB of (unlabeled) data containing days of footage. Additionally, we provide our trained models as a benchmark. Possible applications include automated checkout systems which could significantly speed up the process.

Faces are far from the only thing artificial intelligence researchers want computers to recognize. One Japanese tech company has created an AI-powered camera system, called BakeryScan, that is able to recognize different types of breads and pastries. Developed by Japanese tech and media firm Brain Co., the scanning tools are currently installed in more than 400 retail locations across Japan. One of the technology's biggest clients is the Andersen Group, a chain of high-end Danish-inspired bakeries that operate across Japan, according to a report from The Asahi Shimbun. BakeryScan works through a camera that's mounted above a backlit checkout tray.

Robots have transcended the realm of sci-fi fantasy and are now making revolutionary waves in several industries. Industries that deal with complex, life-threatening tasks have been enjoying tremendous benefits from robots. From being controlled by a human operator to now being fully autonomous, robotics has vastly grown. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies, some robots today are designed such that they closely emulate human intelligence, in one form or another. Due to this, we see the use cases of robots in areas that need human intelligence and decision-making capabilities.

Until this fall, Chintan Maniar managed nearly 200 employees at a Target store in San Jose, California. Now, after 20 years at the big-box retailer, he manages a much tinier storefront in San Francisco. It's staffed by many more cameras than people, and shoppers can walk in, grab a bag of Doritos or a pump-bottle of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day hand soap, and just walk out. Standard Store, operated by a San Francisco-based startup called Standard Cognition, is open to the public and meant to showcase the company's autonomous checkout technology. When you enter, you use an app to check in.