Uber has reportedly exhausted its annual AI budget just four months into 2026 and is now evaluating the returns on its investments. In an interview with Rapid Response, Uber President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Macdonald stated that the company is struggling to see a direct connection between increased token consumption for Claude Code and the delivery of more useful features to consumers. He noted, "That link is not there yet... it's very hard to draw a line between one of those stats and, 'Okay, now we're actually producing 25 percent more useful consumer features.'"
✓ AI-Debiased Article
15
Public broadcaster
provisional
Uber President Questions Justification for AI Spending
Uber has run out of its annual AI budget within the first four months of 2026 and is questioning the effectiveness of its AI investments. President Andrew Macdonald expressed concerns about the lack of a clear connection between AI spending and the delivery of beneficial features to users.
Companies
Uber Technologies Inc.
People
Andrew Macdonald
Annotating as
No note attached
on this article.
Original vs. Neutral
Original Headline
Uber president says AI spending is getting ‘harder to justify’
Neutral Headline
Uber President Questions Justification for AI Spending