Your MoneyYOUR MONEY

Five everyday costs rising, and AI wants personal prices

CBS reports retailers want artificial intelligence to set personalized prices for each shopper, while the Times counts food, computers and streaming among costs rising; the price tag may soon know you.

On air: Kenji Moonfield and Hank Ledger on Wake Up, America
Published 5:18 AM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Footage: the Dronalist · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “5 Costs Americans Are Paying More for as Inflation Rises”, with reporting from CBS News.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5:18 AM ET on Wake Up, America, by Kenji Moonfield and Hank Ledger.
Topics: Americans, AI.
BBN covered this story before: French AI CEO warns Americans against voting Democrat: 'you don't… (October 13).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The New York Times5 Costs Americans Are Paying More for as Inflation Rises
CBS NewsWhy AI could end the price tag as we know it

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe New York Times lists five costs Americans are paying more for as inflation rises, including food, computers and streaming.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo groceries, laptops and Netflix all went up. That's your whole personality and your whole fridge, getting more expensive at once.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLast time we said inflation hit three point seven percent over the year through September, with fuel leading the way. Now it's your lunch too.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd CBS says retailers want artificial intelligence to set personalized prices for shoppers, a consumer protection expert warns.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSame shirt, different price, depending on who you are.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorDepending on who you are?
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHank, it's a robot that watches you.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIf you search for sneakers at two in the morning, it knows you're desperate. Sneakers cost more for desperate people.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo a store could look at me and decide I'll pay nine dollars for a muffin.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA fair price used to be one price for everybody.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentNow it's a vibe check with a cash register, and you fail it at the muffin.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI'd like to know what it will charge me for this coffee.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIt already did. Your coffee cost extra because you asked.