The demise of Spirit Airlines, a pioneer in nickel-and-dime pricing, signals a broader trend of businesses exploiting customers through hidden fees and add-ons. This strategy, once a niche approach, has now become mainstream, with companies across industries from airlines to tech giants adopting it. The article explores the implications of this shift, arguing that while technology has the potential to empower consumers, it also enables businesses to exploit them further. The author questions whether AI, designed to overcome information asymmetries, can truly be on the side of consumers when it's being used to create more targeted and insidious pricing strategies. The piece concludes by emphasizing the need for a balanced approach, where technology enhances consumer choice and fairness, rather than becoming a tool for exploitation.
