Retail Salespersons

mmm it's been like this in certain areas for a long time. Like 2 sets of Managers and an Assistant (who just runs the floor (their support teams: GM, etc) for a small sized store. Bring on Seasonals/Temps for the holidays. One should spend only 2 years, 3 max at a level like this, there's no reason not to be attempting to move up into Management (or jump ship to a similar company) if you're not, well that's your choice.

self checkouts are frequently disparaged by customers who shop at my company for the exact reason that they do not want to see robots/ai replacing workers.

Will this reflect or have separate section that is post ChatGPT?
What was originally seen as a roadblock is no longer valid, and the threat of replacement was already high even prior to the advent of ChatGPT

Not likely. People can't corner an automated system and force it to pay attention to them while they talk about irrelevant and inappropriate things, brag about their medical issues (in graphic detail), and list the types of antipsychotic medications they are currently prescribed.

In addition, the general public doesn't have the aptitude to operate technology which is the better part of a century old. We've all seen the threats, and they don't hold water because after utilizing automated systems for a few decades, retailers are ditching them in favor of employees. Walmart is a great example because they are actively removing these systems (don't try to argue, just look it up).

Because of the pandemic and all.

The world is changing exponentially year over year. Things that took 20 years to be developed and brought to market now can be developed in just a fraction of the time. Society is driven by innovation and technology and the economy is vastly dominated by data driven statistics. AI is more advanced than the world actually realizes. The IOT is already in production and just standing by for the regulations to be incorporated, then that will pull out all the stops. I give it 2-3 years tops before automation disrupts every industry whether society is ready for it or not.

The entire retail industry is fallen by the waste side and being disrupted by eCommerce. Amazon has dominated the retail space over the last decade and is expanding exponentially year over year with no signs of slowing down. The retail industry will need to adapt to the new way that people want to do business.

People will always need that human connection, there are plenty of us that needs to touch, see, and feel the product, sometimes even taste the product. There are going to be a place for AI and robotics, with this in some aspects will make our jobs more efficient and productive. We are social beings, we have learned that through this Covid-19 pandemic, people need people even in sales.

Well it depends what we're talking about here. If we're talking about people who stock shelves the whole times then absolutely but there're are some places where we cant really replace them yet.

Ease of online sales will surely doom retail storefronts, especially the sales reps. It already is. I work in cellular and literally sell the very devices people use to online shop and price check. Sorry 'bout that.

Because people still go in stores (talking here about fashion here) for a personal connection. Might be more automated for consumer goods but not that sure it will be 92% automated