Algorithms and AI are rapidly reshaping how companies set prices and compete, but they are also attracting intensified antitrust scrutiny. Competition authorities have made clear that technological sophistication does not neutralise traditional cartel risks, and may even amplify them.
Heightened antitrust scrutiny of algorithms and AI
Competition authorities are increasingly focused on the competitive risks posed by algorithms and artificial intelligence. In recent public remarks, the European Commission (Commission) has highlighted pricing algorithms as an area of concern, noting their potential to facilitate coordination between competitors. Similar themes have emerged in the UK, where the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has emphasised that while algorithms and AI can generate substantial efficiencies and consumer benefits, they may also enable novel forms of collusion. In a recent blog post, the CMA explained that it is actively screening for algorithm‑driven coordination
