California drivers filed a proposed class-action lawsuit on Monday in federal court in Sacramento against several gas station operators, alleging they used an artificial intelligence-based pricing tool to artificially inflate fuel prices.

The complaint names BP, Circle K, Marathon, 7-Eleven, Walmart, Albertsons, and Kalibrate as defendants. According to the court filings, the defendants operate more than 1,700 gas stations across California. The lawsuit alleges the scheme violated California's Cartwright Act and Assembly Bill 325, which became effective on January 1.

The complaint states that gas prices have increased by as much as 30 cents a gallon in areas where a high percentage of stations utilize the AI tool from Kalibrate to coordinate pricing. Court filings indicate that every penny increase in gasoline prices costs California drivers an additional $134 million per year. The filings also note that gasoline prices in the state sometimes reach $7 per gallon. AAA reports that the average price for regular gasoline in California is $5.58 per gallon, while the national average is $3.93 per gallon.

The complaint asserts that the defendants conspired to eliminate competition. It states: "While families struggle to afford the commute to work, defendants have conspired to put an end to competition, joining an AI-powered trust to ensure that no matter where a driver turns, the price for gasoline is artificially high." The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for drivers who purchased gasoline from the defendants.