Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Only 6% of companies report strong financial gains from AI
AI is now used in at least one area by 89% of organizations surveyed by McKinsey, but only 6% report strong financial gains from it.
Another 37% say AI has had some positive effect on operating profit, so many companies see benefits, but fewer have turned them into substantial results.
KKR senior adviser Ming Lu argues that the main problem is often how companies are organized, not whether they can access the technology.
Around three-quarters of the companies with strong results said they had substantially redesigned their work processes after adopting AI, compared with about one-quarter of other companies.
Faster work by individual employees does not necessarily improve a company’s overall performance unless tasks, decisions and coordination also change.
A separate survey found that 54% of senior executives said the AI transition had seriously disrupted workplace relationships and operations, while 75% said their company’s AI strategy lacked a real road map.
Lu also points to management and organizational costs as barriers to growth, though his analysis reflects his own framework rather than universally accepted economic thresholds.
A McKinsey study found that 89% of organizations use AI in at least one business area, but only 6% report strong financial results from it.
The share of high-performing companies remained at 6% in both 2025 and 2026.
KKR senior adviser Ming Lu argues that companies are struggling to adapt their business models and operations to AI, rather than lacking access to the technology.
About three-quarters of companies reporting strong financial results said they had substantially redesigned their workflows after adopting AI.
A separate survey found that 54% of senior executives said the AI transition had seriously disrupted workplace relationships and operations.
- Who
- Organizations adopting AI, and KKR senior adviser Ming Lu, who analyzed why the technology is not producing stronger financial gains.
- What
- Only 6% of companies reported strong financial results from AI, despite widespread adoption.
- When
- The article was published on October 12, 2026; the cited McKinsey findings cover 2025 and 2026.
- Where
- The McKinsey findings concern organizations globally. A separate survey covered the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia.
- Why
- Lu argues that companies are not sufficiently adapting their business models and work processes to turn AI’s capabilities into broad financial gains.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
McKinsey’s research found that 88% of organizations used AI in at least one business area, while 6% reported strong financial results.
WRITER and Workplace Intelligence surveyed 1,200 senior executives and 1,200 employees across five countries about AI adoption.
McKinsey’s research found that 89% of organizations used AI in at least one business area, while 6% reported strong financial results.
Dünya published Ming Lu’s analysis of the gap between AI adoption and financial gains.
- AI adoption
- 89% of organizations used AI in at least one business area in McKinsey’s 2026 research.
- Strong financial results
- 6% of companies reported significant value from AI in both 2025 and 2026.
- Some operating-profit impact
- 37% of survey participants reported some positive effect from AI on operating profit.
- Personal productivity
- 80% of participants said AI increased their personal productivity.
- Workflow redesign
- About three-quarters of companies with strong financial results said they substantially redesigned work processes after adopting AI.
Sources
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