Apple is reportedly lowering how much its engineers can spend on AI

Apple is reportedly cutting how much its engineers can spend on AI each day. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that in October the daily cap for engineering teams dropped from $300 to $200. Apple has worked to build AI into how it makes software, so the change stands out.

What changed

More cuts may be coming. Sources told Bloomberg that some engineering allowances could fall to $100 a day. Outside engineering, Apple is reportedly weighing a limit as low as $25 a day.

The move fits a wider pattern. Earlier this year, TechCrunch notes, companies pushed staff to use AI as much as possible, a trend nicknamed tokenmaxxing. Tokens are the small units AI services bill by. Then the bills came due, and rationing began to look like the wiser path. Concerns remain about the gap between what AI costs to build and run and the often unclear productivity gains.

What is not known

Apple has not commented. TechCrunch said it reached out to the company. The figures come from Bloomberg and its sources, so the plans could change. It is also unclear when the lower limits would start, or which teams outside engineering would be covered.

For anyone who pays for AI tools at work, the lesson is simple. Set a budget now, and check that the results justify the bill.