McKinsey says enterprise AI is finally 'on the road to ROI'

McKinsey has declared that enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) is now on track to generate a return on investment (ROI). However, the path to profits and the time it takes to achieve them remain uncertain, as most organizations are still not reporting an earnings contribution from AI at the enterprise level. To conduct its report on the State of AI in 2026, McKinsey surveyed 1,719 professionals and business leaders worldwide, and the findings mirror those of previous studies.

Despite increasing AI deployment, only 37 percent of respondents attribute at least some EBIT impact to AI use, which has remained unchanged from the 2025 survey. McKinsey defines AI high performers as those who attribute at least 5 percent of their organization's EBIT to AI use and describe the technology as significant, with the number of such high performers remaining flat at 6 percent since last year.

Companies are still investing in AI, with agentic AI use and building AI-powered code on the rise, but many organizations face high costs that constrain their AI usage. Despite the lack of broad financial impact, 80 percent of respondents using AI in their roles report improved individual productivity. Organizations also anticipate a potential reduction in workforce due to AI, with 39 percent expecting job cuts in the coming year, compared to 32 percent in 2025.

McKinsey suggests that while AI is not a surefire way to cut workforce, it is driving improvements in employee and customer satisfaction, innovation, and competitive differentiation. McKinsey's coauthor, Michael Chui, stated that some ROI is already being achieved, but it is a journey, not a destination, as AI development is akin to other complex technologies such as fusion power, autonomous driving, and practical quantum computers.