An AI-powered out-of-office reply cost a company $10,000 a day, according to the Wall Street Journal US Business. The incident highlights the risks of automating routine communications without human oversight.

The AI auto-response, intended to handle emails during employee absence, instead triggered a costly chain of events. Details remain limited, but the financial damage quickly mounted to $10,000 daily.

Separately, American incomes reached a record last year, offering a contrasting economic signal. The juxtaposition underscores how AI missteps can undermine gains elsewhere.

As AI tools become ubiquitous, businesses face growing pressure to audit automated replies and other customer-facing systems. The $10,000-a-day loss serves as a cautionary tale for companies deploying AI without robust safeguards.