Databricks is launching new tools to help companies cap AI costs, after finding customers had accidentally spent tens of millions of dollars on their broader AI bills in a single month. The rise of AI agents that autonomously interact with models is increasing AI usage and forcing companies to blow budgets. The new Databricks product — Unity AI Gateway — will include AI spend limits, protections to prevent "runaway spend" and recommendations designed to help companies manage AI costs across multiple providers. The gateway can recommend cheaper models for tasks that don't require the most token-heavy or expensive options and will monitor individual user sessions to inform feedback on efficiency of AI usage. Patrick Wendell, Databricks co-founder, says he has seen companies go from little or no AI spending to accidentally spending tens of millions of dollars a month, adding that AI token costs are entering the top three highest expenses among customers behind salaries and other IT expenses. Wendell argued that pushback from monitoring individual AI use is usually stronger when companies use employee activity for AI training, rather than cost control.