Walmart, McDonald’s and other companies have dismissed concerns that they are raising prices based on who is buying or sudden need.
Consumer advocates and some lawmakers have raised alarms that retailers are using artificial intelligence to adjust prices dynamically, potentially targeting individual shoppers based on personal data or demand spikes.
In response, major retailers including Walmart and McDonald’s have pushed back, stating that their pricing strategies are based on broad market factors rather than individual consumer profiles.
The debate highlights growing scrutiny over AI-driven pricing tools, with critics arguing that such technology could enable unfair price discrimination while companies maintain the practice is standard and transparent.
Source: Wall Street Journal US Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing