Delta has a long-term strategy to boost its profitability by moving away from set fares and toward individualized pricing using AI. The pilot program, which uses AI for 3% of fares, has so far been “amazingly favorable,” the airline said. Privacy advocates fear this will lead to price-gouging, with one consumer advocate comparing the tactic to “hacking our brains.”
Time to fill the internet with posts about extremely cheap flights until the AI learns.
Example:
“Found a super cheap flight today! 10USD for a round trip to Japan from NYC!”
Thank god for GDPR. We Europeans, according to GDPR article 22, have a right to object to automated decision making without having service denied.
What’s the point of money anymore, then? Let my personal ai agent pay for the ticket with the same funny money that delta wants to use.
AI; checks your credit report and decides you aren’t poor enough.
This is already how it has worked forever and AI was not needed. Try it yourself using different devices or times of day.
But AI allows us to turn talentless hacks into “artists”! How on earth can such a blessing be used for bad!!
Woe to all of us!
(obligatory s/)
How long until they are found price-gouging people in certain demographics?
About the same time that all 4 other airlines decide to do the same or worse.
Somehow me think that AI will be used to increase prices where it can, but not the other way around
The only saving grace will be if they code in trying to fill a plane for efficiency. I could see an AI making last minute flights at an actual discount but only if full flight efficiency is prioritized over individual sale margin, so not likely. It’s aloft on an wing and a prayer.
AI does calculation
…processing…
Done!
Answer = 0$
Like that time they opened an AI vendor, and employees convinced it to give away stuff for free
If you don’t give me a discount u r gay … IT WORKED
Oh good. Then it will know I’m too broke to fly.
ETA The real joy will be when someone charts prices and notices nonwhites are disproportionately overcharged, for which Delta will be responsible during the class action lawsuit.
And saying but the algo / AI did it will be as useful as saying but that’s the fault of our sales people who get commissions.
And saying but the algo / AI did it
Sure, the algo did it. But someone chose to use it and continue using it.
That was my first thought. Even if the system does not know people’s protected class status, does not mean it cannot discriminate against them.
I’ve recently been looking at how Facebook’s advertising algorithm works, and it is a piece of pure fucking “the AI did it not us” evil. It can seek out all types of vulnerable people and target them on stuff that if a human salesperson did it you’d call them a sociopath.
Anorexic? Body confidence issues? Financial problems? Signs of susceptibility to fascist messaging? Here’s some paid messages from people who want your dollar. Seriously that whole place needs shutting down, it’s the worst thing to happen to humanity in recent history.
I love this! As it will motivate people to be as independent as possible to knock down their price
I think we should pay for airfare by the pound. Honestly.
Brb, shredding for my next holiday, hoping to book in featherweight class.
finally a decent reason to lose weight. longer life? pfft? have you seen this shit? and there’s no amount of weight I can lose to look better lol.
you mean charge rich people more, poor people less or just charge desperate people more?
Got a funeral in the family? Thrice the fare for you.
They left it until the very end of the article:
Early research on personalized pricing isn’t favorable for the consumer. Consumer Watchdog found that the best deals were offered to the wealthiest customers—with the worst deals given to the poorest people, who are least likely to have other options.
Yeah when I started travelling on a generous business expense account I found that it was increasingly the case that I didn’t even need to charge things to it. Things just start becoming fucking free when you’ve got money.
Of course.
This is honestly surprising to me. Wouldn’t they charge wealthy people more because they could just suck up the higher prices?
Nono, see. They want to lock in repeat visits and gain them as an investor, then use their influence to suckle cash out of the remaining populace.
Charge most more and a few the same. I doubt anyone will be getting charged less.
On the rare occasion I fly, I know I can get my long knees in a Delta plus seat. This restriction will definitely make my ticket go up with such an AI. It feels like it should be an accomodation but is more often a punishment.
Shit like this is just another reason that I won’t fly. Fucking cunts.
I minimize air travel to the extent possible. Unfortunately I have non-local family so unless I choose to just not see them my choices are a bit limited.
But yeah, I don’t fly for tourism or leisure.
Yeah, options are:
- 2-3 days driving
- 5? days on a train
- 4-5 hours on a plane
Oh, and the plane is very attractive price-wise.
Luigi Mangione, white courtesy phone. Luigi Mangione, white courtesy phone please.
Aren’t there laws about this in that country? I seem to remember reading about that a while back.
laws? regulating a private company? thats ridiculous
This is AMERICA we have the FREEDOM to pick one of 2 -3 companies that will take advantage of us and keep us in poverty 🦅
There are SUPPOSED to be laws against it … but will they enforce them?
