AI is helping gas stations collude to raise California fuel prices, lawsuit says

A federal lawsuit alleges that several major gas station chains in California have been using AI-powered software to collude and artificially inflate fuel prices. The suit claims that companies like BP, 7-Eleven, and Walmart have employed a tool called Kalibrate to coordinate on setting higher prices, which is illegal under antitrust laws. This kind of collusion not only hurts consumers but also undermines fair competition, potentially setting a dangerous precedent for other industries that rely on technology to set prices. The lawsuit underscores the need for vigilance in ensuring that technological advancements do not facilitate anti-competitive practices.