AAPL · News · 20261105N

Operating Expense Trends

Apple Inc. · 2026-11-05 · Importance 60 · Surprise 74

Apple’s fiscal 2026 R&D expenses rose 32%, with AI costs identified as the primary driver. Apple reportedly lowered some engineers’ daily AI spending caps from $300 to $200 and was considering further cuts to $100 for some engineering teams. Some non-engineering teams could face caps as low as $25 per day, while employees seeking higher capacity could request exemptions.

Key facts

• Apple’s R&D expenses rose 32% in fiscal year 2026, primarily due to AI costs. source