Uber has reported that 11% of its real-time backend updates are now generated by AI, specifically utilizing Claude Code for various functions including rider-driver matching and pricing. This significant adoption of AI tools, which has outpaced other development methods among Uber engineers, has led to a rapid depletion of the company’s annual AI budget just months into 2026. The company’s CTO acknowledged the situation, stating they need to reassess their spending plans due to the unexpectedly high demand for AI coding solutions.

Uber: Uber is a global technology platform providing ride-hailing, delivery, and logistics services that connect consumers with service providers worldwide. The company has aggressively integrated AI into its engineering workflows to accelerate development. Uber is deploying Claude Code across its engineering teams for backend updates, rider-driver matching, pricing, features, and bug fixes, leading to early exhaustion of its 2026 AI budget.
Claude Code: Claude Code is Anthropic’s AI-powered coding assistant that enables developers to build features, fix bugs, and automate tasks by comprehending entire codebases. It supports agentic workflows for independent code generation and execution. Uber engineers rely on it for live production code changes, contributing to rapid AI budget overruns in early 2026.
Praveen Neppalli Naga: Praveen Neppalli Naga is Uber’s Chief Technology Officer, directing engineering strategy, scientific initiatives, and technical operations. He oversees the adoption of AI tools transforming software development practices. Neppalli Naga highlighted that Claude Code’s intensive use has forced Uber to rethink its AI budget projections just months into 2026.

Tool Adoption: Claude Code usage at Uber has surged past other AI development tools in recent months.
Agentic Coding: Uber engineers favor agentic AI workflows over traditional IDE autocomplete for handling complex coding tasks.
Budget Pressure: High demand for AI coding agents like Claude Code prompted early revision of Uber’s annual AI spending plans.