{"id":371854,"date":"2026-06-23T19:36:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T19:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/371854\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T19:36:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T19:36:25","slug":"california-drivers-sue-major-gas-companies-for-alleged-ai-price-fixing-as-prices-at-the-pump-soar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/371854\/","title":{"rendered":"California drivers sue major gas companies for alleged AI-price fixing as prices at the pump soar"},"content":{"rendered":"

California drivers claim they were taken for a ride at the pump \u2014 and they\u2019re blaming AI.<\/p>\n

BP, Marathon Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Walmart and several other major gas station operators were hit with a class-action lawsuit Monday accusing them of using an artificial intelligence-driven pricing tool to illegally jack up gas prices across the Golden State, according to Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Sacramento, alleges the companies used a tool from pricing software firm Kalibrate to gather data from competing stations and \u201ccoordinate high prices\u201d in violation of California\u2019s main antitrust law, the Cartwright Act.<\/p>\n

\"BP,<\/p>\n

BP, Marathon Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Walmart and several other major gas station operators were hit with a proposed class-action lawsuit Monday. Christopher Sadowski for NY Post<\/p>\n

\"It<\/p>\n

It accused them of using an artificial intelligence pricing tool to illegally jack up gas prices across the Golden State. Sundry Photography \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The complaint alleges that every additional cent per gallon costs California motorists an extra $134 million per year. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

The drivers also claim the alleged scheme violated Assembly Bill 325, a new California law that took effect Jan. 1 that was designed to crack down on algorithmic price fixing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile families struggle to afford the commute to work, defendants have conspired to put an end to competition, joining an AI-powered trust to ensure that no matter where a driver turns, the price for gasoline is artificially high,\u201d the complaint said.<\/p>\n

The suit names several gas giants and station operators as defendants, including BP, Circle K, Marathon Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Walmart and Albertsons, in addition to Kalibrate.<\/p>\n

The defendants collectively operate more than 1,700 gas stations across California, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

The drivers claim gas prices have climbed by as much as 30 cents per gallon in markets where large numbers of stations use the Kalibrate tool.<\/p>\n

The complaint claims that every additional cent per gallon adds up to cost California motorists an extra $134 million per year \u2014\u00a0with pump prices in some areas reaching \u201castronomical\u201d levels as high as $7 per gallon.<\/p>\n

California drivers already pay the highest gas prices in the nation, with a gallon of regular gas averaging $5.58 per gallon compared to the national average of $3.93, according to AAA figures.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for drivers who allegedly overpaid for gas.<\/p>\n

The defendants either did not immediately respond to requests for comment or declined to comment, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n

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