Apple cuts AI usage budgets for employees, engineer daily cap lowered to $200

Apple's move is a notable signal that even the largest technology companies are treating AI compute as a line item to be managed rather than an open-ended subsidy. The tiered caps, with engineering teams retaining far more headroom than non-engineering functions, suggest internal prioritization of where AI spend is judged most productive, and the executive exemption route keeps flexibility for high-value cases. The open question is whether this reflects temporary budget discipline or a broader reassessment of how much routine AI usage is worth funding at scale.