Apple Tightens Internal AI Budgets and Slashes Employee Token Limits

Apple has reduced internal AI usage budgets for its employees to curb rising operational costs, with some engineers facing a 33% reduction in their daily token spending limit from $300 to $200. This move reflects a broader industry trend where major tech companies are shifting from unconstrained AI experimentation to strict cost management and financial accountability for infrastructure use. Some engineering teams face potential drops to $100 per day, while non-engineering roles may see budgets compressed to $25, though high-usage employees can request exemptions from management.