Apple lowered the daily AI spending cap for some engineers from $300 to $200 in October and is considering further reductions, potentially to $100 for some engineering teams. Some non-engineering teams already face a $100 limit, which could fall to $25. Employees needing more can seek exemptions from senior executives, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the plans [bloomberg.com][business-standard.com]. The limits cover use of outside AI services including Anthropic’s Claude, OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Some teams have been directed to use cheaper models or models running locally on their devices. Providers charge based on the amount of text and data their models process, and complex coding work can consume substantial amounts [business-standard.com][thenextweb.com]. The cuts are part of new chief executive John Ternus’ push to reduce Apple’s management layers. Apple’s fiscal 2026 research and development costs rose 32% to $45.8 billion, while operating expenses climbed 22% to $75.5 billion. Savings from the new caps remain unclear because some employees reportedly used little of their previous allowance [9to5mac.com][business-standard.com]. Highlights: • Industry limits: Microsoft has tightened internal AI budgets, Tesla set a $200 weekly employee limit, Uber capped individual AI coding tools at $1,500 a month, and Meta introduced token budgets while steering staff toward its own tools [business-standard.com][thenextweb.com]. • Productivity review: Goldman Sachs restricted access to some AI coding tools after reviewing their productivity benefits and risk-management implications [indianexpress.com]. Perspectives: Apple employees concerned about restructuring: Some employees saw the spending cuts and consultant reviews as possible signs of broader cost reductions and worried about layoffs [business-standard.com][freepressjournal.in]. (Business Standard) "All of us are using AI in a significant way already, and we must use it as a company as well." — Tim Cook, then Apple chief executive Sources: • Apple cuts employee AI budgets as token costs trigger tighter spending controls - firstpost.com • Apple cuts employee AI budgets in cost-control push: Report - indianexpress.com • Apple is Putting Employees on an AI Budget - macrumors.com • Apple cuts engineers’ daily AI budgets as it reins in spending - thenextweb.com • Apple tightens the purse strings on employee AI use - cultofmac.com • Apple employee AI budgets cut to reduce costs - reddit.com • Apple is reportedly cutting budgets for its internal AI usage - techcrunch.com • Report: Apple reduces employees’ AI token allowances as Ternus moves to cut costs - 9to5mac.com • Apple cuts employee budgets for artificial intelligence usage - appleworld.today • Apple cuts employee AI budgets in cost-control push, Bloomberg News reports - reuters.com • Apple reduces employee AI spending caps in bid to rein in costs - macdailynews.com • Apple Slashes Employee AI Budgets as John Ternus Cuts Costs: Report - iphoneincanada.ca • Apple Cuts Internal AI Usage Budgets in Move to Reduce Spending - bloomberg.com • Apple lowers internal AI usage budgets in move to reduce spending - business-standard.com • Apple cắt giảm ngân sách liên quan đến AI - vietnamplus.vn • Apple ปรับลด งบประมาณการใช้งาน AI ของพนักงาน เพื่อควบคุมต้นทุน - iphonemod.net • Apple reduces internal AI tool usage budgets: report - seekingalpha.com • Apple Trims Employee AI Budgets, Deepening Worries Of Layoffs Under New CEO - freepressjournal.in • Apple Cuts Engineering AI Spending Cap by One-Third - pymnts.com • Apple kürzt KI-Budgets für Mitarbeiter – weitere Einschnitte geplant - maclife.de • "애플도 직원들 AI 토큰 사용한도 삭감" - yna.co.kr • 蘋果削員工AI使用預算 工程師每日開支上限擬降至100美元 - mingpao.com • 蘋果據報削員工AI使用預算　工程師日限或降至100美元 - i-cable.com • AI支出進入「算帳時代」！彭博：蘋果削減內部預算 部分工程師日額度降至200美元 - cnyes.com --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News