Box: Aaron Levie Uses Slack to Monitor AI Usage

Box Bets on Slack to Track AI Usage

Aaron Levie, the CEO of Box, recently shared with Business Insider his method for tracking the use of artificial intelligence within his company. Unlike other companies that celebrate "tokenmaxxing" — a term referring to the competition to spend the most AI tokens — Levie prefers a different approach. He explained that while Box monitors token spending, the company does not reward its biggest spenders in the same way others might.

Levie finds the concept of tokenmaxxing "fun and innovative," but he emphasizes that at Box, the focus is on identifying powerful AI agent users through other means. One example of this approach is the use of a dedicated Slack channel, where employees share their best practices for AI coding. This method allows the company to spot those who are leveraging AI agents most effectively.

A Growing Trend in the Tech Sector

The CEO of Box does not rule out the possibility that his engineers might one day create a tokenmaxxing leaderboard within the company. He told Business Insider that he wouldn't be surprised if this happened, although he is unsure if this trend has already gained traction at Box. Levie sees this practice as a way to push AI agents to their limits, which could reveal significant productivity gains.

In the tech sector, token rankings have become a hot topic. For example, a Meta employee had set up a ranking called "Claudeonomics" before it was shut down. Similarly, OpenAI has its own token ranking. A token, in this context, is a unit of computation that influences the pricing of AI usage, with each token representing about three-quarters of a word.

Box's Approach to AI Token Usage

At Box, Aaron Levie tracks token spending, but he clarifies that the company does not celebrate tokenmaxxing in the same way others do. Box's primary goal is to accelerate product development and expand its roadmap. To achieve this, Levie employs alternative methods to identify engineers who are intensive AI users, notably through a Slack channel where employees discuss their AI coding practices.

The CEO of Box encourages intensive use of AI agents, not only by engineers but also in other areas such as marketing, finance, and law. According to Levie, it is crucial to understand how to leverage this new abundance of intelligence. Tokenmaxxing, while extreme, is a pathway to explore these opportunities.

The Challenges of AI Token Allocation

The question of how to allocate AI agents and their tokens is complex. Levie points out that 90% of the economy cannot afford to engage in tokenmaxxing like Meta or certain venture-backed startups. He views this as a new frontier that companies need to consider.

Levie has heard of various strategies for managing tokens. For instance, an unnamed company that is a Box client uses "Shark Tank"-style presentations to allocate its IT budget. Employees must request funding, test their ideas, and then develop them if they succeed.

Other companies have chosen to provide their most productive departments with more powerful AI models, such as Opus 4.6 and GPT 5.4, to achieve more efficient and cost-effective models across the organization. Levie compares companies to "heat-seeking missiles" for productivity, seeking out areas where tokens are most needed.

No Token Ranking at Box

Despite the interest in tokenmaxxing, Levie has no intention of creating an internal ranking at Box or distributing rewards based on this practice. He believes it could lead to "hilarious" outcomes, with people spending budgets on absurd projects. Levie prefers to focus on more constructive methods to maximize the use of AI agents and improve the company's productivity.