McKinsey Finds 88% of Organizations Use AI as Only 39% See EBIT Impact
Updated
Updated · HBR.org Daily · Jun 23
McKinsey Finds 88% of Organizations Use AI as Only 39% See EBIT Impact
3 articles · Updated · HBR.org Daily · Jun 23
Summary
McKinsey’s 2025 Global Survey found 88% of organizations now use AI in at least one business function, yet only 39% report any EBIT impact.
That payoff remains modest: even among companies seeing gains, the EBIT effect is typically less than 5%, underscoring leaders’ concerns about weak returns.
McKinsey says AI spending falls into five categories—two tactical and three strategic—and argues these investments should not be judged by traditional ROI measures alone.
Other surveys point the same way: BCG says 60% of AI investors create no material value and only 5% achieve substantial value at scale, while Deloitte found acceptable ROI often takes two to four years.