Keywords
pricing, surveillance pricing, legislation, consumer rights, algorithmic pricing, Instacart, market manipulation, historical pricing, value of service pricing, consumer surplus
Summary
In this episode of the Venture Step podcast, Dalton Anderson explores the evolution of pricing from historical negotiation practices to modern surveillance pricing driven by AI algorithms. He discusses the implications of these changes on consumer rights, the recent Instacart scandal, and the legislative responses aimed at regulating algorithmic pricing. The conversation highlights the moral and ethical considerations surrounding pricing strategies and the potential future of pricing legislation.
Takeaways
The AI algorithm is now determining consumer pricing based on data.
Surveillance pricing can lead to manipulation of consumers.
Historical pricing was based on negotiation and transparency.
Legislation like the Interstate Commerce Act was created to protect consumers.
Instacart's pricing practices led to a significant FTC fine.
Value of service pricing was a historical method of pricing based on consumer need.
New bills are being introduced to combat algorithmic pricing.
The impact of pricing algorithms can lead to significant consumer costs.
Legislative responses are evolving in reaction to pricing scandals.
The future of pricing legislation is uncertain but necessary.
Titles
The Future of Pricing: Algorithms vs. Ethics
Surveillance Pricing: The New Consumer Challenge
Sound bites
"That's manipulation, those are quite different."
"We don't care if it's a good or a service."
"This is unchristian. We're not doing this."
Chapters
00:00 The Evolution of Pricing: From Negotiation to Algorithms
06:09 Surveillance Pricing: The New Age of Consumer Manipulation
12:55 Value of Service Pricing: A Historical Perspective
19:51 Legislative Responses to Algorithmic Pricing
28:16 The Future of Pricing: Trends and Implications
Support
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/232
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4640
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/instacart-pay-60-million-consumer-refunds-settle-ftc-lawsuit-over-allegations-it-engaged-deceptive
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-requires-realpage-end-sharing-competitively-sensitive-information-and
https://www.consumerreports.org/money/questionable-business-practices/instacart-ai-pricing-experiment-inflating-grocery-bills-a1142182490/
