AI-selected watermelons outsell regular varieties at Lotte Mart

[Courtesy of Lotte Shopping]

Artificial intelligence (AI)-selected watermelons are selling twice as much as their traditional counterparts at South Korean retailers Lotte Mart and Lotte Super.

These watermelons have seen customer complaints drop by about 50 percent compared to the same period last year, thanks to the precise AI sweetness selection program.

According to Lotte Mart, about 100,000 AI-selected watermelons were sold between April 25 and May 31, double the average sales of 50,000 units for regular watermelons across five varieties.

Among the AI-selected watermelons, those weighing between 7-8 kilograms were the most popular.

These AI-selected watermelons are sourced from Haman, South Gyeongsang Province. The AI technology ensures that only watermelons with a sweetness level of 11 Brix or higher are shipped.

The AI device photographs the watermelon from eight different angles to calculate its volume and uses the measured weight to determine its density. Lower density values often indicate under-ripe or hollow watermelons, while excessively high density values suggest over-ripeness with potentially mushy insides.

Previously, non-destructive sweetness selection involved using light transmission to measure sweetness. However, this method was less accurate, often requiring human inspectors to manually check the watermelons by tapping them.

“We are leveraging AI technology to ensure our customers can purchase high-quality watermelons,” said a Lotte Mart official. “Since implementing the AI selection process, customer complaints have decreased by about 50 percent compared to the same period last year.”

The price of AI-selected watermelons is around 20,000 won ($14.7), which is 1,000 to 2,000 won higher than regular watermelons.

Lotte Mart is currently offering a promotion as part of the Lotte Red Festival, providing a 2,000 won discount for Lotte Members and an additional 2,000 won discount for those using promotional credit cards, from June 6-12.

Beyond watermelons, Lotte Mart is expanding AI sweetness selection to other fruits, including Korean melons (chamoe) and muskmelons.

For AI-selected Korean melons, four camera lenses capture 48 images per melon before shipment, analyzing size and weight to detect viruses and external defects that are hard to see with the naked eye.

Similarly, AI-selected muskmelons are analyzed using ten lenses with near-infrared light for data collection to ensure only melons of optimal quality are shipped.