Uber Exhausts 2026 AI Budget on Claude Code in Four Months

Uber has completely utilized its 2026 AI budget within just four months, primarily on two crucial AI coding tools, Claude Code and Cursor, which are vital for engineers despite their steep prices. The Chief Technology Officer disclosed that the monthly API expenses varied between $500 and $2,000 per individual. Introduced in December 2025, Claude Code saw its usage double by February, resulting in the budget being exhausted by April. As a result, 95% of Uber's engineers now engage with AI tools each month. Although Cursor's usage has stabilized, Claude Code remains the primary tool in workflows. The CTO mentioned that the company is reevaluating its AI budget, given that its annual R&D expenditure stands at $3.4 billion. This swift budget consumption underscores the significant importance of AI tools for enhancing engineering productivity, affecting software firms as they navigate costs.