How Much Did AI Charge You for That Plane Ticket?
Airfare prices, as well as prices for pretty much anything sold online, are about to get a lot more dynamic.
How much did you pay for your seat?
Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images North AmericaI am something of an airline points obsessive, or worse. I lurk on blogs and some more dodgy corners of the Internet to learn the latest strategies and promotions. I know the stakes are low, but it’s fun — even the outrage, the latest of which was ignited among the Delta flying community when the airline announced it was using AI to set prices.
Its mistake was using the term “dynamic pricing, ” which people interpret as personalized pricing, like charging people more depending on why they’re flying. Delta is not doing that (yet), at least not with AI. But it is coming, not only for airlines but also for many consumer businesses. And we will all hate it — but we should all prepare for it.