YPF lowers gasoline prices with artificial intelligence: cheaper prices outside peak hours

In an unprecedented milestone for the Argentine energy industry , YPF announced the implementation of a micropricing system using artificial intelligence, which will allow fuel prices to be adjusted according to time slots and demand levels. This is a disruptive measure that combines technological efficiency with economic sense, in line with the modernization plan promoted by the government of Javier Milei, who celebrated the announcement as a decisive step toward a smarter and less bureaucratic state administration.

The project will be implemented starting June 24, with the inauguration of the first Real Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) in Spanish focused on retail sales, which will operate in the central tower of YPF in Puerto Madero. There, real-time data from more than 1,600 service stations that the company owns throughout the country will be processed, enabling instant decisions to optimize prices, logistics, stock, and consumer behavior.

"We're going to do things that are done in Europe", stated Horacio Marín, president of YPF, at the Maizar Congress, where he presented the project. "This goes beyond a simple monitoring room: it's a platform that allows value to be caused second by second and improves the company's profitability."

One of the central pillars of the system will be the dynamic adjustment of gasoline prices according to the time of day. During periods of low demand, such as early morning, prices will be lower to encourage consumption without increasing operating costs. For example, discounts are planned for fuel purchases at 3 a.m., when attendance is minimal but fixed costs remain constant.

In addition, a self-service system will be implemented at the stations, allowing users to refuel without staff intervention, which reduces operating costs and gives customers greater autonomy. "We want to make money in everything we do", summarized Marín when explaining the business logic of the new scheme.

The new center will also analyze sales of non-fuel products, such as food and beverages in Full stores. For example, if a particular item—such as hamburgers—is not selling in a specific region, the system will detect it and reconfigure the stock, avoiding logistical losses.

"It's about understanding the customer experience at its most granular level and being able to adapt the stations' needs to that demand", YPF sources explained to the media.

The RTIC for stations joins the centers already operating in Vaca Muerta and at the La Plata Refinery, where a significant improvement in operational efficiency has been achieved. Together, they are part of YPF's ambitious 4x4 plan, which seeks to optimize operations, maximize efficiencies, develop Vaca Muerta, and expand the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) business.

Integration with distribution logistics will also be immediate. The system will allow dispatch times and prices to be modified according to vehicle flow at each station, intelligently redirecting demand to maximize revenue.

The president of the nation, Javier Milei, praised the measure taken by YPF in a recent interview with Neura Media: "It's wonderful. It's great. You'll have smart service stations. It allows you to save and significantly lower costs, you refuel by yourself, it debits automatically, and it also adjusts the price based on demand at any given moment", explained the president.

The YPF initiative represents a test case of what the libertarian government considers a deep transformation of the state-owned enterprise. With less political interference, greater technical efficiency, and a focus on profitability, Marín's leadership is seen as a model to replicate.