Finders AI Opens 2nd Branch, Pursues H1 Overseas Expansion

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based unmanned store technology is rapidly spreading, presenting a new retail paradigm beyond domestic and international borders. Finders AI, an AI automation startup and one of the frontrunners, successfully opened its second 'AI Unmanned Micro Store' within the SpoAny Fitness Center in Hwagok-dong, Seoul, further solidifying its position. 'PX24', which opened this time and spans 3.5 pyeong, is an unmanned store brand introduced through cooperation with fitness retail solution provider Exitors, and it is the second store following the opening of its first store last August. SpoAny stated that it decided to introduce unmanned stores as a strategic choice to effectively utilize lobby space, provide new content to customers, and diversify its revenue structure amidst fierce competition among fitness centers. Finders AI's core technology is an innovative system where AI precisely detects the movements of objects and people, automatically completing payment when an item is picked up, without the need for barcode scanning. This system lightens expensive solutions like Amazon Go and lowers them to popular prices, increasing accessibility. It possesses the strong advantage of being able to transform even small idle spaces into efficient revenue-generating areas. In fact, in Japan, approximately 45 new micro unmanned stores have opened in the last three years, with 25 stores opening last year alone, showing an unprecedented rate of expansion, which demonstrates the potential of this technology. Leveraging these successful domestic and international cases, the company plans to officially enter overseas markets by opening small, convenience store-type unmanned stores in Asian countries during the first half of this year, in cooperation with local distributors.