EY Survey: Senior Executives Shift Focus from AI Adoption to Value Amid Rising Token Costs
According to EY's fifth US AI Pulse Survey, senior executives are shifting their focus from rapid AI adoption to a more measured approach due to rising token costs. The survey of over 500 decision-makers reveals that 82% of organizations investing in AI are concerned about these expenses, with 98% reconsidering their strategies as a result. Despite concerns, only 64% report actively monitoring usage and setting budget limits for tokens. While some companies are scaling back or slowing down AI initiatives (15%), more than half are expanding or accelerating them due to perceived value in agentic workflows. This shift is also driving organizations away from traditional SaaS solutions toward custom-built internal software, with 91% viewing this as critical and 87% already piloting such programs. The survey highlights a broader fiscal recalibration across enterprises, signaling potential disruption for traditional enterprise software vendors. Looking ahead five years, most leaders expect their relationships with these providers to change significantly.
Topics: AI adoption corporate strategy EY survey token costs