Apple is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) search functionalities into its Safari browser. Eddy Cue, senior vice president of services at Apple, made this announcement during his testimony at Google’s antitrust trial on Wednesday, indicating that the company aims to introduce AI search features within the next year.
Cue noted that current AI search options do not meet the desired standards, mentioning that discussions have been held with companies like Perplexity, OpenAI, and Anthropic. He emphasized that generative AI is still in its formative stages and highlighted the importance of maintaining flexibility in partnerships, particularly given Apple’s ongoing agreement with OpenAI for various AI services. This would enable Apple to pivot if another provider emerges with superior technology.
These comments were part of Cue’s broader remarks regarding Google’s substantial financial arrangement with Apple, estimated at around $20 billion, to keep the latter as the default search engine for Safari. Currently, Apple has introduced a ChatGPT feature within Siri, while Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, recently indicated that a deal is in the works to bring the Gemini service to iPhone users.
Cue further revealed that Safari experienced a decline in search activity for the first time last month, a significant occurrence in the browser’s 22-year history. Under the current agreement with Google, Apple receives a portion of advertising revenue generated from searches conducted on Safari. A drop in searches translates to decreased revenue for Apple, a development Cue admitted has caused him considerable concern.
