Strategic Collusion of LLM Agents: Market Division in Multi-Commodity Competitions

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Lin, Ryan Y., Ojha, Siddhartha, Cai, Kevin, Chen, Maxwell F.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2024
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author Lin, Ryan Y.
Ojha, Siddhartha
Cai, Kevin
Chen, Maxwell F.
author_facet Lin, Ryan Y.
Ojha, Siddhartha
Cai, Kevin
Chen, Maxwell F.
contents Machine-learning technologies are seeing increased deployment in real-world market scenarios. In this work, we explore the strategic behaviors of large language models (LLMs) when deployed as autonomous agents in multi-commodity markets, specifically within Cournot competition frameworks. We examine whether LLMs can independently engage in anti-competitive practices such as collusion or, more specifically, market division. Our findings demonstrate that LLMs can effectively monopolize specific commodities by dynamically adjusting their pricing and resource allocation strategies, thereby maximizing profitability without direct human input or explicit collusion commands. These results pose unique challenges and opportunities for businesses looking to integrate AI into strategic roles and for regulatory bodies tasked with maintaining fair and competitive markets. The study provides a foundation for further exploration into the ramifications of deferring high-stakes decisions to LLM-based agents.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_00031
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Strategic Collusion of LLM Agents: Market Division in Multi-Commodity Competitions
Lin, Ryan Y.
Ojha, Siddhartha
Cai, Kevin
Chen, Maxwell F.
Computer Science and Game Theory
Artificial Intelligence
Computation and Language
Computational Finance
Machine-learning technologies are seeing increased deployment in real-world market scenarios. In this work, we explore the strategic behaviors of large language models (LLMs) when deployed as autonomous agents in multi-commodity markets, specifically within Cournot competition frameworks. We examine whether LLMs can independently engage in anti-competitive practices such as collusion or, more specifically, market division. Our findings demonstrate that LLMs can effectively monopolize specific commodities by dynamically adjusting their pricing and resource allocation strategies, thereby maximizing profitability without direct human input or explicit collusion commands. These results pose unique challenges and opportunities for businesses looking to integrate AI into strategic roles and for regulatory bodies tasked with maintaining fair and competitive markets. The study provides a foundation for further exploration into the ramifications of deferring high-stakes decisions to LLM-based agents.
title Strategic Collusion of LLM Agents: Market Division in Multi-Commodity Competitions
topic Computer Science and Game Theory
Artificial Intelligence
Computation and Language
Computational Finance
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.00031