UK leaders struggle to track AI costs as adoption rises

UK businesses are moving AI into routine work, but many leaders lack a clear view of the costs involved. KPMG’s latest Global AI Pulse report found that 26% of UK companies are now using AI as part of everyday work, up from 18% in the first quarter of this year.

Usage-based pricing is creating new pressure on budgets as adoption expands. Three-in-ten UK leaders said they struggle with usage-based costs, while 42% have only partial visibility into AI spending. One-third also cited “limited understanding” of AI cost structures, including tokens, as a barrier to deploying AI agents.

Governance practices are starting to mature. More than half (57%) of UK leaders report having AI cost monitoring dashboards, while 61% have embedded cost reviews into AI approval processes. Organizations with stronger cost visibility are four-times more likely to report established ROI, at 25% versus 6%.

Rising costs have already prompted some companies to rethink internal AI use. Uber used its entire annual AI budget in just four months and introduced a $1,500 monthly cap per employee, while Accenture has urged staff to avoid unnecessary AI tasks. Gartner analysts have warned AI token costs could exceed developer salaries by 2028.