🔍 Read the full analysis: Most Companies Use AI, But Few See It Pay Off on ThorstenMeyerAI.com
Get the little things that make your day delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
TL;DR
Surveys cited in a November 6, 2026 report find that AI use is spreading across companies, while measurable financial gains remain concentrated among a small minority. Researchers and forecasters point to workflow redesign, data, expertise and governance as factors shaping whether pilots deliver value.
Most companies are using AI, but only a small share say it has made a material contribution to profits, according to surveys reviewed in a report published November 6, 2026. McKinsey found that 37 percent of respondents said AI had some effect on their company’s earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), while 6 percent met its definition of high performers, attributing at least 5 percent of EBIT to AI.
The figures come from different studies and do not measure adoption or financial returns in exactly the same way. McKinsey’s 2026 survey drew on 1,719 respondents; its reported share saying AI affected EBIT was about the same as a year earlier. The report says The Register and TechTimes covered the survey results. The 6 percent figure refers to respondents whose companies attributed at least 5 percent of EBIT to AI, not to the share of companies reporting any benefit.
A separate Boston Consulting Group study of 1,250 firms found that 5 percent were getting value from AI at scale, while 60 percent reported no material value. BCG’s figures reflect that study’s definitions and should not be treated as directly interchangeable with McKinsey’s. The report says BCG also found a gap between leaders and laggards: leaders had deployed 62 percent of their AI initiatives, compared with 12 percent for laggards.
In the European Union, 20 percent of enterprises with at least 10 employees used AI in 2025, up from 13.5 percent, according to Eurostat data cited in the report. Adoption varied by size: 55 percent of large enterprises used AI, compared with 17 percent of small enterprises. The report also cites missing expertise as the most common reason European firms that had considered AI did not use it, with 71 percent naming that barrier.
Infographic 01 · Who gets value from AI
Most companies use AI. About 6 percent profit from it in a big way
Adoption keeps rising. The share of companies that can show a large effect on profit has barely moved.
Share of McKinsey’s 2026 respondents who attribute at least 5 percent of their company’s EBIT to AI and call the impact significant. Flat versus 2025, as reported by The Register.
Wide use, thin profit
Different surveys, different bases: read each line with its source
Sources: McKinsey State of AI 2026 (n = 1,719), as reported by The Register, 25 Aug 2026 and TechTimes, 26 Aug 2026 · BCG, The Widening AI Value Gap, Sept 2025 (n = 1,250) · Eurostat, 11 Dec 2025 · Eurostat Statistics Explained (enterprises with 10+ employees). Survey figures are self-reported by executives; Eurostat counts use, not value.
Powered by Thorsten Meyer AI
Why Adoption Has Not Yet Driven Profits
The gap matters because companies are moving from testing AI tools toward using software to carry out parts of business processes. Rather than only digitising records or helping staff find information, AI systems may classify incoming requests, consult other systems, draft responses or take actions within set limits. That could change how work is organised, but the survey figures show that use alone is not evidence of financial return.
The report points to workflow redesign as one explanation for the divide. BCG’s findings suggest that firms reporting stronger results are more likely to deploy initiatives beyond isolated pilots. If AI is added to an existing process without clarifying who checks decisions, handles exceptions and takes responsibility, adoption may not translate into lower costs or increased revenue. These are explanations and recommendations drawn from the cited research, not proof that one management approach guarantees a return.
The stakes extend to employees and buyers of business software. In McKinsey’s survey, 80 percent of respondents who use AI said it had made them more productive. At the same time, 39 percent expected job cuts, up from 32 percent in the prior survey, according to the report. Those are respondents’ reported experiences and expectations; they do not establish how many jobs will be eliminated. The report also says last year’s job cuts fell short of what respondents had expected.
Products Worth Considering
Philips Hue Starter Kit with Bridge Pro and 4 Retrofit LED Recessed Downlights
Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit with Bridge and 4 White and Color A19 Bulbs
Samsung 55-Inch The Frame QLED 4K TV (2026) Bundle
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Digital Records to AI Workflows
The report frames AI as a change in the role software plays in a company. Traditional digitisation moved paperwork and records into electronic systems, while people continued to interpret cases and make decisions. Newer AI tools can process some unstructured material, such as emails, invoices and support tickets, and may take follow-up steps. Systems that perform tasks, rather than only provide answers, are often described as AI agents.
The measures cited offer different snapshots. Eurostat tracks reported AI use among EU businesses; McKinsey surveys respondents about their organisations and reported outcomes; BCG assesses the value companies say they obtain. None alone establishes the financial effect of AI across all businesses. The report also cites Gartner forecasts that more than 40 percent of agentic AI projects will be cancelled by the end of 2027 because of costs, unclear value or weak risk controls. Gartner separately forecasts that organisations will abandon 60 percent of AI projects that lack AI-ready data. These are forecasts, not reported cancellation results.
Agent use is growing in some large firms, according to the report’s account of McKinsey data: among companies with more than $1 billion in revenue, 40 percent said they were scaling agents, compared with 27 percent previously. BCG respondents said agents accounted for about 17 percent of their AI value and expected that share to reach 29 percent by 2028. Those figures describe survey responses and expectations, not a verified share of overall corporate profits.
What the Surveys Cannot Establish
The cited studies do not provide a single, directly comparable measure of how many companies earn profits from AI. They use different samples, questions and definitions of value, and the report relies on published accounts of some survey results rather than presenting every underlying dataset. The figures therefore show reported experiences and adoption, not an audited calculation of AI’s effect on corporate earnings.
It also remains unclear how many current pilots will become lasting deployments, how much reported productivity will translate into financial gains, and how job expectations will compare with actual employment changes. Gartner’s projected cancellation rates concern future outcomes and may not match what ultimately occurs. The report does not establish that AI was the sole cause of any company’s profit or productivity changes.
The Next Test Is Scaled Deployment
The near-term test for companies will be whether they can move selected AI projects into routine operations while tracking costs, outcomes and risks. The report says the research points toward choosing a limited number of use cases, redesigning workflows, improving data readiness and defining what agents may do. Companies will also need to decide who reviews exceptions and is accountable for actions taken by automated systems.
Gartner’s forecast puts cancellations of agentic AI projects by the end of 2027 on the horizon, but the cited material does not identify which projects or companies will be affected. Future survey results and company disclosures may clarify whether broader adoption produces more measurable gains. For now, the available figures show a clear gap between AI use and reported financial impact, without resolving how quickly that gap will narrow.
Key Questions
How many companies say AI affects their profits?
In McKinsey’s 2026 survey, 37 percent of respondents said AI had some effect on their company’s EBIT. The survey account cited in the report says 6 percent qualified as high performers, attributing at least 5 percent of EBIT to AI.
Does the 6 percent figure mean only 6 percent of companies benefit from AI?
No. It refers to a specific high-performer category: companies said to attribute at least 5 percent of EBIT to AI. McKinsey separately reported that 37 percent of respondents said AI had some effect on EBIT.
How common is AI use in the European Union?
Eurostat data cited in the report says 20 percent of EU enterprises with 10 or more employees used AI in 2025, compared with 13.5 percent in the previous year. The reported rate was 55 percent for large enterprises and 17 percent for small ones.
Why do some AI projects fail to scale?
The report cites obstacles including unclear value, costs, weak risk controls, data that is not ready for AI and a lack of expertise. Gartner’s projected cancellation figures are forecasts; they do not confirm how many projects have already been cancelled.
What does the report say about AI and jobs?
McKinsey respondents who used AI often reported productivity gains, while a rising share expected job cuts: 39 percent, up from 32 percent. These are survey responses, not a count of confirmed job losses.
Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com
