How much does an AI agent cost to run per month in 2026?
What my AI agents cost to run in October 2026, job by job, and how the new API credits in ChatGPT Business and Claude Team cover a small agent's bill.
Notes from the work.
How to brief an AI, check what it produces, and decide which work to hand over. Plus the technology decisions that still need a person.
Writing
Should you give an AI agent your business bank login?
Bank of America and JPMorgan warn against giving AI agents your bank login. Who pays if an agent misuses it, and how to give one read-only access.
Should you let QuickBooks AI send your invoice reminders?
QuickBooks now chases late invoices with AI. My AR agent drafts every reminder I send. Which invoice reminders to automate, and which to send yourself.
How many small businesses use AI in 2026? 24.6% or 86%
Goldman Sachs found 86% of small businesses it surveyed use AI; Census says 24.6%. Why 2026 AI adoption statistics disagree, and how few have integrated AI.
Claude Duet for small business: should owners use it?
Claude Duet is Anthropic's new AI agent for small business owners. I run hundreds of agents. What it costs, whether it's safe, and the lock-in to watch.
AI agent security: how to give agents access safely
Microsoft now calls AI agents untrusted insiders. I run hundreds. Six rules for setting AI agent permissions on email, money and systems.
AI agent vs ChatGPT in 2026: do you need an agent?
AI agent vs ChatGPT: ChatGPT now runs scheduled agents with approvals. I run hundreds of AI agents. Whether you need one depends on the job around it.
AI employees for business: how to hire your first agent
How a small business hires an AI agent like an employee: what starts it, what it knows, what it can touch, when to trust it alone. From 69 agent hires.
How to use AI effectively at work: brief it like a new hire
How to use AI effectively at work: why ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini and Claude give generic answers, and five habits that fix it, with before-and-after examples.
Scaling Startup Tech Leadership: When to Hire a Part-time CTO
Learn when and how to scale your startup's technical leadership with a fractional CTO. Navigate the critical decisions that determine your company's technical future.
