Lawsuit alleges major gas station operators used AI tools to inflate prices by up to 30 cents per gallon, costing drivers $134 million annually per cent increase.
California drivers filed a class-action lawsuit against BP, Marathon, Walmart, and other gas station operators, accusing them of using an AI pricing tool to collude on pump prices. The complaint centers on Kalibrate, a tool that allegedly gathers rival station data to push prices higher, violating state antitrust laws.
The lawsuit cites Assembly Bill 325, effective January 1, which targets algorithmic price manipulation. Drivers claim markets with high Kalibrate adoption saw prices rise by up to 30 cents per gallon, with some stations charging $7 per gallon. Each cent increase reportedly costs California motorists an additional $134 million annually.
Defendants either declined to comment or did not respond to requests. The case highlights growing scrutiny of AI-driven pricing strategies in regulated markets.