Ep 99 | Rethinking the Cost of Enterprise AI | Heard from EVOLVE26 New York

Cloudera, Inc.

Nov 4, 2026

A $6,000 laptop could change the math on a $60,000 AI token bill.

That fact makes Patrick Moorhead question how businesses calculate the cost of AI. For suitable workloads, running an open model locally could make an expensive-looking hardware purchase a worthwhile investment. His focus is the cost of producing a reliable result.

For this special *EVOLVE26* series, guest host Laura Blewitt takes the mic. In this episode of The AI Forecast, she sits down with Patrick Moorhead, founder and chief analyst of Moor Insights & Strategy, to unpack the economics behind AI’s investment boom and what it will take for businesses to see a return.

Having worked at AltaVista during the dot-com boom and bust, Patrick brings firsthand experience of an investment cycle that promised to change everything. He explains why he believes AI is already in a bubble, alongside the demand that keeps him optimistic about its potential. For enterprise leaders, the discussion comes down to how to make their own AI investments pay off.

Where the AI economics get interesting:*
What the dot-com era can teach us about today’s AI investment boom
Why the cost of a reliable output matters when evaluating AI ROI
How open models can change inference economics
When running AI locally or on-premises could make financial sense
Why protecting intellectual property belongs in the AI business case
How to prioritize workflows with a clear connection to business outcomes

Patrick is looking for “proof of life” in the businesses using AI, particularly evidence that non-tech companies are generating new revenue. Faster product launches and services customers will pay for would help demonstrate that the investment is translating into value.

For leaders deciding where to put their AI budget, this conversation offers a sharper way to assess what the business is getting for its money.

To hear more about matching AI model costs to business value, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch

Stay in touch with Patrick:*
Patrick Moorhead on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patmoorhead/

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