Most companies see zero financial return from AI investments, economist finds

An economist at Apollo reports that despite heavy corporate spending and widespread hype, artificial intelligence has not generated measurable financial returns for most companies outside the technology sector. The finding challenges optimistic narratives about AI's near-term business value and suggests that organizations may be investing in the technology without seeing concrete bottom-line results yet.

The research underscores a growing gap between AI adoption rates and actual profitability gains. For founders and investors, the data raises questions about which use cases and industries will eventually prove profitable, and what timeline companies should realistically expect before AI investments pay off.