A group of California drivers and consumers filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in federal court in Sacramento accusing several large gas station operators of using artificial intelligence to inflate gasoline prices. The plaintiffs allege that companies including BP, Marathon Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Walmart, Albertsons, and Circle K participated in an illegal pricing scheme by using an AI-based tool that draws on data from competing stations. According to the complaints described by multiple outlets, the AI tool is said to help coordinate higher pump prices across locations, which the plaintiffs argue violates California’s antitrust law, the Cartwright Act. One report identifies the alleged pricing tool as being associated with “Kalibrate,” and states the suit targets coordination affecting more than 1,700 stations operated by the named companies. The filings claim the conduct allowed the defendants to maintain artificially high prices. The sources summarize the allegations and the companies named, but they do not report any court findings or outcomes yet. The lawsuit seeks damages and other relief on behalf of the proposed class.