So apparently the barcode is getting an upgrade in 2027.
"The EAN/UPC barcode [...] has offered price lookup functionality for decades. However, it’s no longer keeping up with today’s growing demands [...] In response, the global supply chain is moving toward two-dimensional (2D) barcodes that can carry more information."
https://www.gs1us.org/industries-and-insights/by-topic/sunrise-2027
Via https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2024/01/the-last-days-of-the-barcode/677185/