Mark Cuban said at the 2026 Raise Summit that companies should not fear spending on AI tokens because there are always ways to use the technology [1].
Cuban's perspective comes as many large organizations struggle to balance the high cost of artificial intelligence integration with tangible returns on investment. His guidance suggests that the risk of under-utilizing AI is greater than the financial risk of the spending itself.
During the summit, Cuban addressed the hesitation seen in corporate boardrooms regarding the escalating costs of AI operations [1]. He said, "We're hearing more and more, particularly for larger companies, being afraid of how much they're spending on tokens and how much they're spending on AI. There's always a way that you can use it" [1].
While encouraging investment, Cuban also cautioned that the manner in which AI is deployed can impact professional trajectories [2]. He suggested that using AI to replace critical thinking rather than as a tool for learning could lead to significant career blunders [2, 3]. The goal, according to Cuban, is to foster a productive environment where AI enhances human capability, rather than substituting for it [2].
This balance is critical for the stability of the broader technology sector [3]. Some industry commentary suggests that if users begin to view leading AI models as "toxic," the industry could face a potential collapse [3]. Cuban's approach emphasizes that the long-term viability of the sector depends on the strategic and ethical application of these tools [1, 2].
By focusing on learning-centric implementation, Cuban said that companies can avoid the pitfalls of misuse while still capturing the efficiency gains offered by generative AI [2].
“"There's always a way that you can use it."”
Cuban's comments highlight a tension between the high operational costs of large-scale AI deployment and the fear of falling behind in a competitive market. By framing AI spending as an essential investment rather than a sunk cost, he is pushing for a shift toward 'AI literacy' where the value is derived from human-AI collaboration rather than total automation.
