The Justice Department is coming for AI: 'If your AI fixes prices, you're just as responsible'

• The Justice Department is cracking down on anticompetitive uses of artificial intelligence.
• The DOJ has been investigating RealPage for using AI algorithms to set high prices since 2022.
• The investigation comes amid the Biden administration's wider antitrust crackdown on Big Tech.

AI can make many things easier for companies, including price fixing.

The Department of Justice is now cracking down on such anticompetitive uses of the buzzy new technology.

That means practices like setting prices above the market rates, colluding with rivals, and striking exclusionary deals are unlawful — whether humans or algorithms are behind them.