Apple is reportedly considering a major overhaul of Safari, with the iPhone maker actively exploring new AI-driven search options, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. This was revealed during testimony from Apple executive Eddy Cue at an antitrust case on Wednesday, where he discussed Google’s dominance in online search. Cue mentioned that searches on Safari declined for the first time last month, driven by users increasingly turning to AI-based search tools. Apple’s stock ended the day down by 1.1%.
In response, Google stated that it continues to see growth in total search queries, including those from Apple devices and platforms. The company highlighted features like voice and visual search as key contributors to this growth, though it’s unclear if Cue’s comments were based on the same search criteria.
Despite Google’s claims of growth, Cue’s testimony hints at a significant shift in the search landscape, potentially challenging Google’s long-standing dominance. This comes amid increased scrutiny from U.S. antitrust regulators, who have filed lawsuits against the company over its market power.
Google currently pays Apple about $20 billion annually to be the default search engine on Safari, a lucrative arrangement that accounts for roughly 36% of Google’s search ad revenue through the browser, according to analysts. One of the potential remedies proposed by the U.S. Justice Department to curb Google’s control over online search is banning its ability to pay companies to maintain this default position.
