This couple vibe coded a bot to call 20,000 gas stations. They're building a price tracker from scratch.

In an effort to tackle the challenges posed by fluctuating fuel prices, a London-based couple has created an AI-driven service called Gas Index. This platform calls nearly 20,000 gas stations to gather real-time pricing data, aiming to empower consumers with up-to-date information on fuel costs. The AI bot, named Bobby after a character from the animated series "King of the Hill," engages in conversations with gas station attendants, asking about the current price of regular gasoline. For instance, during one interaction, an attendant in Manhattan informed Bobby that the price was $3.89 per gallon. The couple, Matt Cortland and John Fleming, designed this project as a passion endeavor, intending to provide a helpful resource for people grappling with rising gas prices. Cortland, who works as a consultant and has family in New Jersey, explained, "We wanted to create something impactful that addresses the needs of consumers. With gas prices surging, we focused on delivering accurate pricing information." Fleming, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford University, noted significant disparities in gas pricing regulations between the U.S. and the U.K. While the national average for regular gas in the U.S. is currently $4.16, prices vary significantly across states, from $3.43 in Oklahoma to $5.93 in California. The Gas Index platform tracks over 170,000 gas stations across all 50 states. It combines data from Google, which only covers about half of U.S. gas stations, with user-submitted images and AI-generated phone calls to fill in the gaps. To build the website and phone bot, Cortland and Fleming utilized various AI tools, completing the project in just five days. The couple has invested between $3,000 and $5,000 in AI token receipts for the project, leveraging a grant from ElevenLabs to help offset costs. The Gas Index not only provides pricing data but also contextualizes fuel costs by comparing them to everyday items, such as a Dunkin' iced coffee or local favorites like beignets in Louisiana. While accuracy is a priority, the founders acknowledge that the user-generated data may lead to discrepancies. They have implemented checks to filter out inaccurate submissions. For example, when Business Insider verified prices at ten stations listed on their site, four matched the prices, while one differed by 15 cents. The platform also highlights the impact of geopolitical events on fuel prices, including the ongoing war in Iran. Despite this, Cortland emphasized that their goal is not to push a political agenda but rather to provide a valuable tool for all consumers, regardless of their political affiliations. "We want everyone to benefit from better pricing information," he said.