Apple Working To Move To AI Search in Browser Amid Google Fallout (bloomberg.com) 8
Apple is "actively looking at" revamping the Safari web browser on its devices to focus on AI-powered search engines, a seismic shift for the industry hastened by the potential end of a longtime partnership with Google. From a report: Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, made the disclosure Wednesday during his testimony in the US Justice Department's lawsuit against Alphabet. The heart of the dispute is the two companies' estimated $20 billion-a-year deal that makes Google the default offering for queries in Apple's browser. The case could force the tech giants to unwind the pact, upending how the iPhone and other devices have long operated.
Cue noted that searches on Safari dipped for the first time last month, which he attributed to people using AI. Cue said he believes that AI search providers, including OpenAI, Perplexity and Anthropic, will eventually replace standard search engines like Alphabet's Google. He said he believes Apple will bring those options to Safari in the future. "We will add them to the list -- they probably won't be the default," he said, indicating that they still need to improve.
Cue noted that searches on Safari dipped for the first time last month, which he attributed to people using AI. Cue said he believes that AI search providers, including OpenAI, Perplexity and Anthropic, will eventually replace standard search engines like Alphabet's Google. He said he believes Apple will bring those options to Safari in the future. "We will add them to the list -- they probably won't be the default," he said, indicating that they still need to improve.
They should make a second browser or a new mode (Score:1)
Well, there are plenty of alternatives.
If the standard of modern web browsing will be AI driven, then good night.
Re: (Score:2)
The standard (business) model of web browsing is selling ads, and I predict it will be from some time to come.
In other news, Google stock got absolutely hammered today. Why? Because it stands to lose a huge source of ad revenue from Apple users.
Apple's AI? (Score:2)
I thought I heard enough about Apple lying about their own AI being vaporware, how are they going to pull off this kind of move?
Why? (Score:2)
revamping the Safari web browser
I'd expect the search to be run on the server end. Sure, the prompt will be more involved. But that's just HTML forms and a touch of JavaScript. Also the responsibility of the server end. Any old browser should do.
The knowledge base (the large language model) will have to be updated frequently, as the web crawlers discover new current events. Distributing them to every browser so that they can then process their own searches is the logical equivalent of Google sending out copies of its database on a daily
this could work if (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
they made a special purpose AI that only focused on search inquiries and acted as a middleman between the user and the search engine so users are not deceived by advertising disguised as search results (looking at you google)
Apple would be the best company to develop an ad-free AI assistant because ads are not a significant revenue stream for them (so far ... cross your fingers). Instead, Apple needs a driver for increase iPhone sales. The Apple exec said something about iPhones going away in 10 years, but what he really meant is that Apple will bet its future on something that looks like an iPhone but is pitched as something revolutionarily different, i.e., a new iPhone moment that paradoxically would kill the iPhone.
In the
Google is getting hoist on their own petard (Score:2)