Tech News Weekly (Audio) TNW 416: AI Pricing on Instacart - Is AI Making You Pay More for Grocery Deliveries?
Dec 12, 2025
Derek Kravitz, an investigative journalist at Consumer Reports, delves into a fascinating investigation revealing how Instacart leverages AI to implement variable pricing on groceries. He shares insights on the study's methodology, which involved 437 participants uncovering price discrepancies of up to 23% on identical products. Discussion includes the implications of dynamic pricing, how consumer behavior affects costs, and future regulatory considerations. It's a deep dive into transparency in grocery shopping that every consumer should consider!
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Hinge Founder Left To Build An AI Dating App
- Amanda Silberling described Justin McLeod leaving Hinge to start Overtone, an AI- and voice-focused dating app.
- She contrasted AI dating fatigue with features like Hinge's conversation starters and rose-paywall mechanics.
AI Dating Trades Effort For Authenticity
- Dating apps add AI to reduce user effort but risk eroding authenticity and conversation quality.
- Founders see AI as a product evolution despite user fatigue and ethical concerns.
Pebble's Voice-First Ring With A Disposable Battery
- Mikah and Amanda discussed Pebble's Index 01 smart ring that records voice notes with limited local storage and on-device transcription.
- They liked the passive 'press-to-record' idea but criticized the non-rechargeable battery choice and e-waste implications.