28 August 2026

McKinsey survey finds AI investment rising while actual profit gains remain flat

First reported

The Register ran this on 25 August, 3 days before the next source picked it up.

McKinsey surveyed 1,719 business leaders worldwide and found only 6% of organizations attribute at least 5% of their earnings to AI, unchanged from last year despite rising investment.
Among large companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue, 40% are now scaling AI agents that automate tasks, up from 27% last year, while smaller firms lag at 22%.
Nearly one-third of respondents said their organizations built custom solutions using AI coding tools instead of buying software, but 20% report AI operating costs have slowed their deployment.
While 80% of individual employees say AI improved their personal productivity, 39% of survey respondents now expect their employer to cut jobs due to AI within a year, up from 32% last year.
McKinsey acknowledges organizations believe AI will reshape their business over the next three years and plan more investment, yet the gap between conviction and measurable financial returns persists.