McDonald’s AI pricing push is widening the divide with some franchisees

By Waylon CunninghamNEW YORK, Sept 29 (Reuters) - McDonald’s is increasingly using artificial intelligence to guide menu prices across the U.S. and some global markets, a plan that aims to boost headquarters’ profit but risks alienating customers and attracting antitrust scrutiny.One pricing factor supercharged by AI: an estimate of how much each store's patrons are willing to pay.The details of how that pricing system works, its extensive use of AI, the company’s regulatory co