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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Dee-Ann Durbin

McDonald's sued over AI tool that recommends prices to US franchisees

McDonald's Pricing - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

McDonald’s is facing a federal lawsuit that alleges its AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws because it shares nonpublic data with franchisees who might be competing in the same market.

The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Illinois, said McDonald’s pricing tool uses artificial intelligence to collect data that competing franchises wouldn’t normally share, like store-level sales. The Chicago-based burger giant has said it makes the tool available to U.S. franchisees to help them set prices at their individual restaurants.

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