Science & Tech · AI · 7 hrs ago
36% of European companies have exceeded their AI token budgets
A survey found that 36% of European companies exceeded their planned annual spending on AI tokens.
Tokens are units used to measure and charge for the use of AI models.
Accenture based the findings on a survey of 750 executives at large companies.
The study found that 79% of token spending was not clearly tied to measurable financial results.
Spending is rising as companies add AI uses and use agents that can carry out tasks autonomously, making costs harder to predict.
Lower token prices would lead 94% of companies to expand AI use, rather than use the savings to cut budgets.
Only 26% use automated model routing to control costs, and 18% have a formal team or function overseeing token spending; the study says Spanish companies show a similar pattern, but less urgency about controlling costs.
A study by Accenture found that 36% of European companies have exceeded their planned annual budget for AI tokens.
The study surveyed 750 executives at large companies.
It found that 79% of the spending could not yet be clearly linked to measurable financial results.
Accenture said growing use cases and autonomous AI agents are driving consumption and making costs harder to predict.
Only 26% of European companies use automated model routing, and 18% have a formal team to monitor token spending.
- Who
- European companies, according to an Accenture study based on a survey of 750 executives at large companies.
- What
- 36% have exceeded their planned annual AI token budgets.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Europe.
- Why
- Wider AI use and autonomous agents are increasing consumption and making costs harder to predict.
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This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Companies over budget
- 36% of European organizations
- Spending without measurable financial link
- 79% of AI token spending
- Survey
- 750 executives at large companies
- Automated model routing
- Used by 26% of European organizations
- Formal spending oversight
- Present at 18% of European organizations
What people are saying
Companies initially saw artificial intelligence as a technology expense, when in reality it is a new source of productive capacity.
Artificial intelligence is no longer directly dependent on people and is instead carrying out tasks autonomously.