McDonald’s Sued Over AI Pricing Tool in Proposed Antitrust Class Action
McDonald’s is facing a proposed nationwide class-action lawsuit alleging its AI pricing tool illegally facilitates price coordination among franchisees, raising menu prices for customers. The complaint claims McDonald’s shares nonpublic store-level sales data and uses millions of transactions to generate pricing recommendations that franchisees are pressured to follow, while McDonald’s contends that franchisees independently set prices and can choose whether to use the tool. The case highlights concerns over McDonald’s influence on franchisee pricing amid rising menu costs and demand for more affordable options.