Artificial intelligence is being adopted by 89% of organizations, according to the study 'The State of AI 2026: On the road to ROI', from McKinsey. Of the companies that already have the technology implemented, 80% of employees say they have increased their productivity. However, only 37% of companies report a positive impact on their EBIT, a value similar to the previous year. The study indicates that to achieve real profitability, it is necessary to completely redesign the work processes of organizations.
Large-scale implementation has been growing: 44% of companies already use AI across the entire company and 56% use it in three or more corporate areas. This growth is more evident in companies with revenues exceeding one billion dollars. Chatbots are the most widespread technology, adopted on a large scale by 47% of companies, but software coding agents are increasing, present in 31% of large organizations.
Rita Calvão, associate partner at McKinsey & Company, notes that there are organizations implementing AI much more rapidly than others, and the financial impact is beginning to widen the gap between those who managed to leverage the technology and those who have not yet achieved this. The technology, healthcare, professional services, and energy sectors stand out with approximately 40% of companies applying AI.
The report reveals a discrepancy between perceived efficiency at the personal level and business results. While 80% of professionals report increased individual productivity, 52% indicate that AI helps them develop new skills, and 50% say it facilitates decision-making, 47% of middle managers and employees report work-related pressure or negative effects associated with the technology.
