AI Adoption Is Exploding—But It’s About to Get a Lot More Expensive

AI is revolutionizing business, driving automation, and unlocking new efficiencies. Companies aren’t just experimenting with AI anymore; they’re spending billions to make it a core part of their operations.

From skyrocketing Capital Expenditure (CapEx) to the increasing Tech Intensity of businesses, AI is transforming financial and operational models. And with OpenAI now planning to charge $20,000 per month for its most advanced AI agents, the cost of staying competitive is higher than ever.

The trends are clear: AI is leading to higher CapEx and Tech Intensity, and businesses must prepare for long-term financial commitments to stay ahead.

Tech Intensity: Businesses Are Becoming More Dependent on AI

AI is impossible to ignore.

• 80% of global companies are integrating AI into operations.
• 21% of businesses have redesigned workflows around AI.
• 83% of companies now consider AI critical to their strategy.

As AI scales across industries, businesses aren’t just adopting AI—they’re building entire ecosystems around it.

AI adoption isn’t uniform—different industries are experiencing varying levels of impact.

AI is shifting from being an experimental tool to an operational necessity, forcing companies to rethink their technology strategies at every level.

The Price of AI Just Went Up: OpenAI’s $20,000/Month AI Agents

As AI becomes indispensable, OpenAI is rolling out a new tier of ultra-premium AI services—and they don’t come cheap.

New OpenAI Pricing Tiers:

?? PhD-Level AI Agent – $20,000/month for high-level research and decision-making.

?? Software Developer AI Agent – $10,000/month for AI-powered coding and engineering support.

?? High-Income Knowledge Worker AI – $2,000/month for business professionals.

For context, OpenAI’s standard ChatGPT Plus plan is just $20/month. But these new enterprise-level AI agents come with a massive price tag, signaling that cutting-edge AI will become a major business expense, not just a tool.

AI Spending: A Growing Divide Between Large and Small Businesses

While tech giants are investing billions in AI infrastructure, smaller businesses are taking a different approach:

• Enterprise AI = High CapEx → Large corporations invest in AI-specific hardware, data centers, and R&D.
• SMB AI = Subscription-Based → Smaller businesses opt for AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS), reducing CapEx but increasing long-term costs through high-priced AI subscriptions.

A UK study found that AI expenditure among SMBs was ￡1.7 billion in 2021, projected to reach ￡3.5–5.5 billion by 2025—proof that even small businesses are spending more on AI than ever before.

Why AI Investment Will Only Increase

Some argue AI will reduce costs by automating workflows—but history tells a different story.

Take stock trading: when financial firms computerized trading in the 1980s, costs didn’t drop—they shifted into massive infrastructure investments. AI is following the same pattern:

• AI infrastructure costs are rising (more data centers, more processing power).
• AI subscription models are getting more expensive (OpenAI’s $20,000/month agents are just the beginning).
• AI reliance is increasing, making businesses more dependent on high-cost AI services.

The Future of AI Investment: Who Will Keep Up?

With rising CapEx, increasing Tech Intensity, and premium AI pricing, one thing is clear:

?? The future of AI belongs to those who can afford it.

What do you think?