Tokenomics Explained: Understanding the True Cost and Value of AI

AI investment is accelerating, but how do organizations move beyond spending on AI to actually measuring its business value?

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking podcast, recorded at VMware Explore 2026, Pete Flecha and Jad El-Zein are joined by J.R. Stormont from the Linux Foundation’s Tokenomics Foundation and Raj, Head of ValueOps at Broadcom, to explore the emerging discipline of Tokenomics.

Tokenomics goes far beyond counting tokens. With token consumption representing only a portion of the total cost of AI, organizations need a more comprehensive approach to understanding infrastructure costs, model selection, governance, and measurable business outcomes.

The conversation explores how enterprises can optimize AI investments by connecting technical efficiency to business value, selecting the right models for different workloads, and establishing governance frameworks that balance cost, security, data sovereignty, and compliance.