Kroger Hit With Patent Infringement Suit Over Online Chat Bot

July 12, 2024, 9:29 PM UTC

The Kroger Co. is facing claims its automated online chat bot violates patents registered to a software company.

Disintermediation Services Inc. filed a complaint Thursday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, bringing one count of federal patent infringement. The suit takes aim at an artificial intelligence-powered feature on Kroger’s website that answers customer questions about discounts, orders, cashback programs, and technical issues.

Disintermediation says the feature violates its US Patent Nos. 11,240,183; 11,336,597; 11,349,787; and 11,855,937. The patents describe “methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs” for “communication as part of a conversation ...

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