Garry Tan reveals annual spending on AI agent tokens
Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan spends up to $200,000 annually on AI tokens for extensive personal and professional use.
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Garry Tan, the CEO of startup accelerator Y Combinator, disclosed that he spends between $100,000 and $200,000 annually on API tokens to support his extensive use of artificial intelligence agents. The figure was shared during an appearance on the podcast The Builders, hosted by Walter Isaacson, which is scheduled for release on Nov. 3.
Tan described the high cost of maintaining these systems as a crazy privilege that is not currently accessible to everyone. He noted that personal AI agents will likely only see widespread adoption once the associated costs decrease, stating that the technology is too expensive at this time.
The Y Combinator executive employs AI agents for a variety of professional and personal tasks, including coding, interview preparation, and managing daily schedules. He reported that these agents have access to sensitive personal data, such as his email, Dropbox files, Apple Notes, and two decades of therapy records.
Beyond his personal use, Y Combinator utilizes an internal agent known as Stray Light. This system functions as a company brain, maintaining context on organizational history, applications, and the founders supported by the accelerator. Tan has previously characterized his intense engagement with these tools as a form of cyber psychosis.