NPR

When Computers Collude

Companies are increasingly using algorithms to set their prices, but is that giving them too much power over consumers?
Source: NurPhoto

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If you shop online, there's a good chance the price you pay for stuff is determined by a computer algorithm. As of 2015, over one third of the 1,600 best-selling items sold on Amazon came from sellers who used algorithms to set their price. Algorithms are spreading like crazy, but are they giving companies too much power over consumers?

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