Amazon to Shut Down "Amazon One" Palm-Recognition Payments by June 2026

Amazon has officially announced the decommissioning of Amazon One, its proprietary palm-recognition payment system. The service is scheduled to cease operations on June 3, 2026. Amazon cited low user adoption as the primary reason for the shutdown. Once the service concludes, all associated biometric data will be permanently and securely deleted.

Strategic Retail Pivot

This move follows Amazon’s recent decision to close several Amazon Go "Just Walk Out" cashierless stores. The tech giant is currently refocusing its physical retail strategy primarily on Whole Foods Market. While Amazon One was a core payment feature within the Whole Foods ecosystem, the company is now opting for more traditional or widely accepted digital payment methods.

The History of Amazon One

Launched in 2020, Amazon One was introduced as a futuristic biometric authentication system. By linking a user's unique palm signature to their credit card, it offered a seamless, contact-free checkout experience. Over the years, Amazon attempted to scale the technology beyond its own stores, licensing it to third-party retailers, sports stadiums, and even using it as a secure entry system for office buildings.

• The most significant factor contributing to Amazon One's failure was privacy concerns. Many users felt uncomfortable providing immutable biometric data like their palm prints to a tech giant, despite Amazon's assurances of security.

• During Amazon One's growth phase, NFC-based mobile payment technologies like Apple Pay and Google Pay became far more widespread and convenient. Users didn't need to register again and could use their phones constantly on the go, diminishing the "wow" factor of palm scanning.

• The discontinuation of this service reflects the acceptance that "high-tech" doesn't always mean "high-revenue." In premium supermarkets like Whole Foods, customers prioritize product quality and service over seemingly overly advanced payment technology.

• Maintaining palm scanning hardware is significantly more expensive than traditional card readers. Compared to the usage rate, the return on investment (ROI) was not worthwhile in the long run for Amazon, a company focused on maximizing efficiency. 

 

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Source: GeekWire