Apple is exploring the integration of AI search engines from OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic into its Safari browser, according to Bloomberg‘s report on Wednesday, citing testimony from Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, in the U.S. Justice Department’s lawsuit against Alphabet.
Cue’s testimony also touched upon the estimated $20 billion annual deal between Apple and Google that makes Google the default search engine on Safari. He revealed that searches on Safari dropped for the first time last month, attributing the decline to the growing use of AI.
Cue believes AI search providers will eventually replace traditional search engines like Google, prompting Apple to consider adding these services to Safari. However, he noted that they are unlikely to become the default search engine as they still require improvement.
Apple has already initiated discussions with Perplexity, Cue disclosed during his testimony.
