AI Token Usage Soars Despite Costs, Shows Limits to Automation

In 2026, there has been a significant increase in AI usage, with trillions of tokens being utilized primarily for automated tasks. This surge in token usage has exceeded the decrease in 'per token cost', leading to substantial expenses for many companies. As a response, businesses are starting to ration their use of advanced AI models due to high costs. Additionally, many companies are shifting towards cheaper AI alternatives from Chinese models. This situation highlights the potential limits of AI automation, which could influence productivity and cost-effectiveness for businesses.