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Antitrust lawsuit alleges McDonald’s uses AI pricing to collude
The case, filed as a class action in Chicago federal court, targets McDonald’s alleged “pricing engine” that franchisees rely on, despite courts still weighing how to apply older antitrust rules to AI tools.
A federal antitrust lawsuit filed this week alleges McDonald’s uses AI-powered tools to fix menu prices, extending a wave of claims that companies are using new technologies to collude and harm consumers, according to Insurance Journal.
The filing argues McDonald’s pressures franchisees to use its “pricing engine,” warning that owners could risk losing franchise status if they do not comply, which plaintiffs say drives up costs for items such as Big Macs and fries for millions of customers.
The lawsuit adds to class action cases across the country that have targeted companies in other industries, including hotels, real estate, and health insurance, Insurance Journal reports.
The dispute also highlights the legal challenge of applying decades-old antitrust laws to AI and software tools, with outcomes in related AI-driven antitrust cases still varying, Insurance Journal adds.