Core Viewpoint - Instacart's stock price fell by 6% following reports of an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into its AI pricing tool, Eversight, which has been criticized for significant price discrepancies among similar grocery items [1] Group 1: FTC Investigation - The FTC has issued a civil investigative demand to Instacart, seeking information about its Eversight pricing tool [1] - A study involving 437 shoppers across four cities found an average price difference of about 7% for the same grocery items on Instacart [1] - The FTC expressed concern over media reports regarding Instacart's alleged pricing practices, stating it does not comment on ongoing investigations [1] Group 2: Instacart's Response - Instacart stated that recent reports inaccurately conflate A/B price testing, dynamic pricing, and monitoring pricing, misrepresenting how its pricing tests operate [2] - The company clarified that it does not use personal information or demographic data to set prices on its platform, emphasizing that retail partners control the base prices [2] - Instacart addressed concerns related to Target, explaining that it uses publicly available price information as a starting point and adds a fee to cover operational costs, noting that it has ended certain pricing tests at Target stores [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating Instacart due to criticisms regarding its AI-driven pricing tool, Eversight, which has led to significant price discrepancies for different shoppers purchasing the same groceries [1][2]. Group 1: Investigation and Criticism - The FTC has issued a civil investigative demand to Instacart, seeking information about the Eversight pricing tool [1][2]. - A study conducted by Groundwork Collaborative, Consumer Reports, and More Perfect Union revealed that nearly 75% of tested items on Instacart showed different prices for different users [3]. - The price differences for the same basket of goods from the same retailer could reach up to 7%, potentially resulting in an annual cost difference of approximately $1,200 for consumers if this discrepancy persists [3]. Group 2: Company Response - Instacart stated that only a limited number of partner retailers are conducting online pricing tests, which do not utilize personal, demographic, or individual behavioral data [2][3]. - The company emphasized that prices do not change based on supply and demand or real-time factors [2][3].