An executive at a big American tech company warned that AI agents—software bots that read, interpret, and act—are turning companies into runaway cost centers. Each agent consumes heavy compute, driving bills into the millions. Companies typically run hundreds of software programs; if every tool adopts agents, the cumulative expense could spiral.

The piece, titled “Token reckoning” in the Business section of the June 20, 2026 print edition, ties the spike to token usage. Token‑based billing means that every prompt, query, or action translates directly into a monetary charge. Without tight monitoring, token consumption can grow unchecked.

Practically, businesses must track token flows, set usage caps, and refactor agent workloads to keep spend predictable. Cost‑control frameworks that flag high‑volume calls, enforce prompt limits, and incentivize efficient code can tame the runaway trend.

These measures signal a shift: AI adoption is no longer about capability alone; it-angular business must now balance innovation with spending discipline.