McKinsey warns that the growing adoption of AI agents may lead to higher operational costs for businesses. Unlike text-based AI tools, agents perform multi-step tasks that can vary significantly in execution, with costs differing by up to 30 times depending on the method used.
According to the McKinsey 2026 AI report, about one-third of organizations allocate over 10% of their technology and communication budgets to AI. Furthermore, 60% of respondents plan to increase their AI spending next year, while 20% report that these costs are already straining their operations.
Software development teams using AI agents for automated coding face particular pressure due to high token consumption. Companies like Amazon, Coinbase, and Salesforce have already implemented restrictions on AI usage or tracking to manage rising bills after observing excessive or unnecessary activity.
While McKinsey notes that AI agents can reduce the time required for office tasks by 35% to 40%, and in some cases by 70% or more, businesses must evaluate whether this value justifies the expenses. McKinsey partners emphasize that understanding these cost dynamics will be critical over the next 12 months.
