Major gas station chains, including BP, Circle K, and 7-Eleven, are facing a lawsuit from California drivers who allege the companies used artificial intelligence to inflate gasoline prices. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Sacramento, claims the retailers relied on pricing software developed by Kalibrate to coordinate fuel prices, resulting in consumers paying more at the pump. According to the complaint, the companies’ actions violated California antitrust laws by reducing competition and effectively enabling price coordination through algorithmic tools. The lawsuit also alleges violations of a recently enacted California law designed to prevent businesses from using algorithms to facilitate price-fixing practices. Plaintiffs argue that the pricing system caused gas prices in some affected areas to rise by as much as 30 cents per gallon, costing drivers millions of dollars in additional fuel expenses. The proposed class-action lawsuit covers more than 1,700 gas stations across the state and seeks financial compensation for motorists who were allegedly overcharged.
