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A college is removing its vending machines after a student discovered they were using facial recognition technology
(www.businessinsider.com)
this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2024
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I'm surprised nobody has discussed the most obvious "marketing" use of this data: Differential pricing.
Someone walks up to the machine. Based on the image seen by the machine, they determine which product is most likely to sell, and bump that product's price up by a quarter or 50 cents.
If they're not doing it now, they're preparing to do it in the near future.
EDIT If you watch Invenda's marketing videos, they talk about how the 'optical sensor' provides a 'bespoke purchasing experience.'
Sounds exactly like dynamic pricing is their model.
Alternatively, I have seen the vending machines with giant screens on the front that play ads for different drinks. Perhaps they will use it for advertising decisions as well.
It's not either or. It can easily be both and selling any data they can as well.
That's my assumption as well. Man in a suit checks out the machine? Bump it up. Couple checks out? Bump it up.