While you think you've spotted the deal of the century, there's an AI in the background that's calculated exactly how much you'll spend. It's not magic—it's algorithms parsing millions of transactions to give each person the most convincing discount, and retailers the fattest margin.
In 30 seconds
01AI analyzes your purchase history and offers personalized discounts based on your willingness to spend.
→
💡
What this means for you
Those discounts that feel like a lucky break are actually the result of algorithms that've profiled you. You feel like you're saving, but you're really paying exactly what the AI decided you can afford—meaning the store wins either way.
Thought slapping 'AI' next to a company name guaranteed its stock would soar? Well, the market had a bitter surprise this year.
·1 min·2·Beginner
02
Retailers apply different discounts to different customers (12% to you, 25% to others) while keeping profits stable.
03Money saved on gas gets redistributed by algorithms that convince you to spend it elsewhere.
Here's the modern consumer paradox: gas prices drop, yet your wallet feels emptier than ever. Your fault? No. Inflation's fault for eating everything else? Sure, but there's more to it. According to Alex Kinnier, CEO of Upside (a platform parsing transaction data), what shows up in your bank account tells a different story than the headlines. People spend less on certain things but pick pricier products, change habits, cut corners elsewhere. The picture's messier than anyone admits.
Enter AI and its superpower: obsessive personalization. This isn't your grandmother's "20% off everything"—a 1998 Excel sheet could do that. Today's algorithms look at YOUR purchase history, YOUR preferences, YOUR wallet's mood on Tuesday, and decide which discount makes you click "buy" fastest. It's like the shopkeeper knows your every move and pitches exactly what convinces you.
📬 Enjoying this article?
Get the best AI news every week, straight to your inbox.
For retailers, the game's even sweeter: while the discounts look generous to your eye, the AI has already calculated that profit margins stay solid—maybe even better than before. Instead of losing money with 30% off everything, they offer 12% to you, 25% to someone else, 5% to a third person, and everyone feels like a winner. Really, everyone's paying the "right" price—whatever each person can afford and willing to spend.
Upside's data shows consumers aren't actually breathing easier despite lower energy prices. Why? The savings don't go to your pocket—they get redistributed by increasingly smart algorithms finding new ways to convince you to spend. It's not malice; it's pure optimization. The system works for both sides: you get a personalized discount that feels like a victory, they sell more while keeping margins intact. Win-win, they say. Except you'll never know how much less you could've paid.
The sweetest irony? The more data they collect, the smarter the system gets, the more convinced you are you're making free choices. Meanwhile, behind a screen, the AI whispers to the retailer: "For this customer, try 15%." And you, obediently, fill your cart.
While the tech world was buzzing about OpenAI, Anthropic made its move. They just dropped Opus 5, a model they claim is almost as good as their legendary Fable 5.
NUOVO
