Wharton Experiment Finds ‘Dumb’ AI Bots Collude to Rig Markets

It’s a regulator’s nightmare: Hedge funds unleash AI bots on stock and bond exchanges — but they don’t just compete, they collude. Instead of battling for returns, they fix prices, hoard profits, and sideline human traders.

Now, a trio of researchers say that scenario is far from science fiction.

In simulations designed to mimic real-world markets, trading agents powered by artificial intelligence formed price-fixing cartels — without explicit instruction. Even with relatively simple programming, the bots chose to collude when left to their own devices, raising fresh alarms for market watchdogs.

Put another way, AI bots don’t need to ...