Apple Weighs Lower AI Spending Caps for Employees

For certain engineering groups, Apple is considering lowering the daily allowance to $100. Non-engineering teams currently have a $100 cap, which could be reduced to as little as $25. Employees who need more funding for their work can ask senior executives for an exception.

The limits cover tokens, the units of text and other data that AI models process. Providers typically charge based on token use, and more sophisticated models tend to cost more. Coding and software-related tasks can consume substantial amounts.

Bloomberg reported that employees are split over the cuts. Some consider the former $300 daily allowance higher than most workers need; others fear the reductions could signal a wider drive to cut costs, potentially including jobs. Those concerns come as Apple brings in outside consultants to review operations and efficiency. Bloomberg reported in late September that CEO John Ternus, who took over on September 1, wants a faster, leaner organization with fewer management layers.

Apple’s spending is rising even as it seeks savings. The company said research and development costs increased 32% in fiscal year 2026 to $45.8 billion, driven by higher infrastructure and AI expenses. Other technology companies have also imposed limits: Uber set a $1,500 monthly token allowance for all employees in June; Meta said that month it planned to limit employee AI use with token caps; and Tesla told staff in July it would cap spending at $200 a week.