Uber is tightening control over its spending on artificial intelligence after using up its entire yearly AI budget in just the first four months of the year.
According to reports, the company has introduced new limits on AI-powered coding tools used by employees. Under the new policy, spending is capped at $1,500 per employee, per tool, each month. This includes popular AI platforms such as Anthropic’s Claude Code and Cursor.
To help manage costs, Uber has also launched an internal dashboard that allows employees to track their AI usage. Workers can request permission to exceed the limit in special cases, but only after receiving approval.
The move comes as a surprise because Uber had previously encouraged employees to make extensive use of AI tools. The company even created internal leaderboards to promote competition among staff and increase adoption of the technology.
However, some executives have started questioning whether the spending is producing clear results. Uber Chief Operating Officer Andrew MacDonald said it remains difficult to measure how much AI tools actually improve productivity or contribute to creating new features for customers.
Uber’s decision highlights a growing issue across the technology industry. Many companies have invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence, hoping it will boost efficiency and growth. But in many cases, the financial benefits are still difficult to prove.
Industry observers believe Uber’s latest move could signal the start of a broader shift. Instead of spending freely on AI, companies may begin taking a closer look at costs, measuring results more carefully, and making sure these investments deliver real value before expanding them further.
