John Lewis rolls out AI-powered age check tool for online knife sales

John Lewis has rolled out an AI-driven age check tool for sales of knives online.

The company is the first major retailer to add facial age estimation at the checkout to approve digital knife sales.

The move means that the company can now begin selling kitchen knives through its website again as the process ensures that only those aged 18+ can purchase the items.

John Lewis removed kitchen knives from sale online in 2009, while cutlery knives were removed in 2022, in line with government legislation.

It is a legal requirement for retailers to include age verification at point of purchase when customers buy knives online.

Yoti, which develops the technology, says that its AI tool is highly accurate, with 99.91 per cent of 13-17 year olds correctly estimated as under 25.

To buy knives through the John Lewis app, customers will need to a take as selfie using the camera on their device.

The AI then analyses the image to assess the age and runs a an “anti-spoofing” liveness check to make sure it’s a real person, not a bot or 2D image. This means that children cannot hold up a photo of an adult to the camera or wear a mask to trick the technology.

The results are returned via API, with an estimated age and a liveness score.

The technology is different to facial recognition as it estimates a person’s age without identifying them. As soon as a person’s age is estimated, the image is permanently deleted, said Yoti.

Home delivery of knives bought online will be completed by Royal Mail or DPD. They will complete an age check at the doorstep with a photographic ID.

John Lewis is not currently planning on extending the technology to other products, however the retailer said that it is always reviewing its options.

“We take safety incredibly seriously, and in line with strict government guidelines, have added an additional layer of security when customers purchase knives online,” said a John Lewis spokesperson. “By adding facial age estimation at checkout, we can help customers buy from our range of knives while making sure they aren’t purchased by anyone under the age of 18.”