Apple has reduced the daily artificial intelligence spending allowance for its engineering teams as the company seeks to control the costs of AI-powered development tools. The limits were lowered from $300 to $200 per day in October 2026, with further reductions reportedly under consideration.
According to a Bloomberg report published on November 4, Apple is considering reducing some engineering teams’ daily allowances to $100. The company is also evaluating spending limits as low as $25 per day for employees outside its engineering departments.
Apple Reduces AI Spending Across Engineering Teams
The changes represent a shift in how Apple manages internal AI usage after previously encouraging the integration of generative AI into engineering workflows. The company has been investigating applications of AI across technical operations, including tools designed to assist with semiconductor development.
Apple’s initial reduction lowered the daily engineering allowance by approximately 33%, from $300 to $200. A further reduction to $100 would represent a two-thirds decrease from the original spending limit.
The reported $25 daily allowance for non-engineering employees would introduce substantially lower spending limits for workers outside technical development teams. However, Bloomberg did not specify which departments would be affected or when the additional restrictions might take effect.
Apple has not publicly confirmed the reported spending adjustments or explained how the limits would affect employees’ access to AI tools. TechCrunch contacted the company for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Rising AI Costs Prompt Companies to Review Usage
The reported changes follow a period of increased corporate spending on generative AI tools, particularly those used for software development and engineering. Earlier in 2026, some technology companies encouraged employees to maximize AI usage in an effort to improve productivity.
The practice, sometimes described as “tokenmaxxing,” involved extensive use of AI models that charge according to the amount of information processed and generated. Higher usage can increase operating expenses, particularly when employees rely on advanced models for complex or repeated tasks.
However, concerns have emerged over the relationship between AI operating costs and measurable productivity improvements. Some businesses have begun reassessing usage allowances as they evaluate whether spending on AI tools produces sufficient financial or operational benefits.
Apple’s reported restrictions focus on controlling daily usage expenses rather than eliminating AI from its engineering processes. The company has not disclosed its overall internal AI spending or provided figures showing how much the revised allowances could reduce costs.
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