Apple Inc. is exploring a major redesign of its Safari web browser to prioritize AI-powered search tools, as the company braces for the potential end of its lucrative search deal with Google and prepares for broader changes in the tech industry, Bloomberg reports.
The disclosure came Wednesday from Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, during his testimony in the US Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Google parent Alphabet Inc. At the heart of the case is the long-standing arrangement—worth an estimated $20 billion annually—that makes Google the default search engine on Apple devices.
Cue told the court that Safari recently saw its first-ever decline in search activity, which he attributed to the growing popularity of generative AI tools. He said AI-driven search platforms such as OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic could eventually overtake traditional engines like Google.
Apple has already integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Siri, and Cue confirmed the company plans to add Google’s Gemini AI later this year. He also mentioned that Apple has considered Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity’s AI engine, DeepSeek, and Elon Musk’s Grok for potential Safari integration. Talks have reportedly begun with Perplexity about future collaboration.
Cue emphasized that while traditional search remains strong, the AI search field is advancing rapidly.
Despite this push toward AI, Cue defended Apple’s current partnership with Google, saying it still offers the best financial terms and expressing concern about losing the revenue it generates.
Cue revealed that prior to selecting ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence in iOS 18, Apple conducted a “bake-off” between OpenAI and Google’s AI tools. He said Google’s proposal included conditions Apple was unwilling to accept—unlike the more flexible agreement reached with OpenAI.
Shares of Alphabet fell as much as 7% following Cue’s testimony, contributing to a downturn in the broader stock market. Apple’s stock also dropped, declining by up to 2.5%. The S&P 500 briefly turned negative after initial gains earlier in the day.
Looking ahead, Cue said technological shifts like AI could fundamentally reshape how consumers interact with devices.
Apple and Google most recently expanded their partnership to include Google Lens integration with iPhone’s Visual Intelligence feature, allowing users to analyze images via AI. Meanwhile, Apple’s agreement with Microsoft’s Bing—another search option in Safari—was recently adjusted to a year-by-year basis.
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