Apple is considering adding an AI search engine to Safari
It has been reported that Apple is actively considering introducing an AI search engine into its Safari web browser on its devices, which could potentially end Apple's longstanding partnership with Google.
Apple Explores Move to AI Search in Browser Amid Google Fallout - Bloomberg
Eddy Cue is fighting to save Apple's $20 billion paycheck from Google | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/policy/662974/google-search-remedies-trial-eddy-cue-apple-deal-ai
Apple is looking to add AI search engines to Safari | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/07/apple-is-looking-to-add-ai-search-engines-to-safari/
'While it's unlikely that Microsoft's Bing or DuckDuckGo will undermine Google's dominance in the search market, AI search services could easily do just that,' Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, said in a Justice Department antitrust lawsuit against Google's parent company, Alphabet.
Cue revealed that the number of searches on Safari dropped for the first time in April 2025, saying, 'This is because people are using AI search such as OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic.' Cue also suggested that these AI search providers will eventually 'replace standard search engines like Google.'
Cue also said that he is 'confident that Apple will include such an AI search engine in Safari in the future,' and revealed that Apple has been in detailed discussions with Perplexity.
'Before AI came along, it felt like none of the other options were valid options,' Cue said. 'Now, I see much greater potential because new entrants are tackling the problem in different ways.'
However, Google responded to Cue's testimony in a blog post, saying, 'Search continues to see overall growth in queries, including an increase in the total number of queries from Apple devices and platforms.'
Google's statement on May 7 press reports about Search traffic
https://blog.google/products/search/statement-press-reports-about-search-traffic/
At the time of writing, Safari's default search engine is set to Google, but this is due to a contract in which Google has agreed to pay Apple a large amount of money. However, this contract has been criticized by authorities for violating antitrust laws.
Google pays Apple 36% of the revenue it earns from being the default search engine in Safari - GIGAZINE
Bloomberg, an economic media outlet, points out that Apple's active consideration of an AI search service suggests the possibility of an end to its long-standing partnership with Google, and that this is a major change that could accelerate industry trends.
At the time of writing, Apple offers OpenAI's ChatGPT as an option for Apple Intelligence, and Google's AI Gemini will be added in the second half of 2025. According to Qiu, Apple has also considered Anthropic's Claude and Perplexity, China-based DeepSeek, and xAI's Grok in collaboration with Apple Intelligence. He also said that the deal with OpenAI will allow other AI providers, including Apple's own, to be added to the company's OS.
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in Software, Web Service, Posted by log1i_yk