A software engineer's essay recalls working at Runa, an early-stage startup that tried to offer dynamic pricing to small online retailers using Clojure and HBase, which never achieved the scale it expected and was eventually acquired by Staples mainly for its 'innovation' credentials before being shut down. The essay also describes a subsequent role at Factual, which built a global index of places using Java, embedded JavaScript, and later Clojure.
ideolalia.com
· 2026-10-28
According to a Reuters investigation, McDonald's is using machine learning models that analyze millions of daily transactions to generate an 'optimal price' for menu items at nearly 14,000 US restaurants. Reuters found a Big Mac priced at $5.69 at one Fresno location and $6.89 at another just two miles away, a 21 percent difference, with three franchisees saying the AI tool has widened price gaps between nearby stores.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-04
Reuters reports that McDonald's has used an AI pricing tool since 2019 that analyzes transaction data from nearly 14,000 restaurants plus competitor pricing, such as Wendy's online menus, to recommend menu prices based on local customers' willingness to pay. Franchise owners told Reuters the system has produced price gaps of over 20% between nearby stores, and that the company calls franchisees to question deviations from recommended prices, despite stating that following the algorithm is optional.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-01
McDonald's is using an AI-driven pricing platform that suggests menu prices for individual franchise locations based on local customers' willingness to pay, according to Reuters. The system tracks whether franchisees deviate from its recommendations, and researchers found a Big Mac priced 21% higher at one Fresno store than another just two miles away. McDonald's says the tool offers recommendations rather than mandates and called the reporting 'speculative and uninformed.'
tech.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-29
Sociologist Lindsay Owens has published 'Gouged: The End of a Fair Price—and What That Means for Your Wallet,' arguing that post-pandemic price increases stemmed largely from corporate pricing decisions rather than supply-and-demand dynamics. Owens, a Stanford-trained sociologist and Capitol Hill veteran, first raised the argument in a viral 2022 tweet that led to a New York Times essay before developing it into a full book examined in this review.
prospect.org
· 2026-09-29
A new book and recent reports describe how companies are using vast troves of consumer data combined with AI to calculate individualized prices for online shoppers, rather than setting prices based on product cost or general market value. The pricing can vary from person to person depending on data profiles rather than the item itself.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-29
Reuters reports that McDonald's has deployed AI-based dynamic pricing tools across US and some global franchise locations, adjusting menu prices based on local 'customer willingness to pay.' Documents reviewed by Reuters show a Big Mac priced $5.69 at one Fresno store and $6.89 at another two miles away, and McDonald's now requires franchisees to 'constructively engage' with its approved pricing tools while tracking deviations from algorithmic recommendations.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-29
Walmart CEO John Furner stated in a website post that the company does not and will not set prices based on customer income, shopping history, willingness to pay, or time of day. The statement comes as Walmart expands digital shelf labels, which already operate in 2,300 U.S. stores and are expected to reach all locations within a year.
news.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-28
Walmart CEO John Furner published a letter to customers stating the company will not adjust prices based on shoppers' income, shopping history, urgency, or time of day. He also said conversations with Walmart's Sparky AI assistant will not be used to alter prices. The statement follows Walmart's earlier announcement that digital shelf labels will be installed in all US stores by year's end.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-28
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