Apple is exploring the integration of AI search options into Safari, as discussed by Eddy Cue during a recent antitrust trial. Cue highlighted ongoing talks with AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, while sharing concerns about the performance of existing AI technologies. With search traffic in Safari declining for the first time in 22 years, Cue emphasized the importance of adapting to prevent revenue loss from Google's search engine default agreement, which pays Apple approximately $20 billion annually. The potential addition of AI features is viewed as a strategic move to enhance user experience and search performance.
"To date, they're just not good enough," Cue said, adding that Apple has already had discussions with Perplexity, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
Cue is mindful that it's still early days for generative AI, and says that with Apple's existing agreement with OpenAI for other AI services, it was important to "make sure we have the capability to switch if we have to."
The statements came as part of Cue's testimony about the around $20 billion Google pays Apple to make it the default search engine on Safari.
Cue added that searches in Safari fell for the first time last month, something that has "never happened in 22 years."
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