In a move signaling a potential tectonic shift in web search, Apple is actively evaluating AI-powered search engines from companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic for integration into its Safari browser, potentially loosening its decades-long grip with Google.
The revelation came directly from Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, during court testimony, highlighting how the rapid ascent of artificial intelligence and the looming threat of antitrust action against Google are forcing Apple to reconsider the future of search on its ubiquitous devices. For billions of iPhone and Mac users, this could herald a significant change in how they access information online.
During testimony on May 7 in the remedies phase of the DOJ’s case against Alphabet, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, stated the company is “actively looking at” revamping Safari around AI search engines, as reported by Bloomberg.
This exploration is driven partly by observed user behavior; Cue noted that Safari searches experienced their first-ever decline last month, a change he attributed to the growing use of AI tools. He expressed a belief that AI search providers “I think today there is much greater potential because there are new entrants attacking the problem in a different way.” and will eventually supplant traditional search engines.
Cue confirmed Apple has held discussions with Perplexity and is evaluating others, including OpenAI and Anthropic, as potential future options within Safari.
However, he tempered expectations, suggesting these AI alternatives still need refinement before they could replace Google’s long-held default position. “We will add them to the list — they probably won’t be the default,” Cue stated, adding “Prior to AI, my feeling around this was, none of the others were valid choices.” but that AI represents a significant technology shift creating new opportunities.
This evaluation is critically timed, as the DOJ seeks to potentially dismantle the estimated $20 billion annual agreement that ensures Google’s prominence in Safari, a deal central to the antitrust case.
Potential Partners and Their Capabilities
The companies Apple is reportedly evaluating represent the cutting edge of generative AI search, each bringing distinct strengths and potential drawbacks:
OpenAI: The maker of ChatGPT has been enhancing its platform with search-like features. Recent updates include a ‘Memory’ feature that uses past interactions to tailor results and rolled out integrated shopping capabilities in late April 2025. Its ‘Deep Research’ tool, now available even to free users in a lightweight form, leverages its newer o-series models (originally exclusive to Pro) known for “early agentic behavior,” but also for higher hallucination rates, an issue OpenAI acknowledges is an “Addressing hallucinations across all our models is an ongoing area of research.”
Perplexity AI: The venture-backed startup has carved a niche with its focus on “Real-time, citation-backed answers are a must for enterprise-grade tools.” through its Sonar API. Perplexity is also building its own AI-native ‘Comet’ browser, signaling ambitions beyond just being a search provider.Its rapid expansion includes a pre-installation deal with Motorola, although its ability to be the default assistant was reportedly blocked by Google’s existing contracts, a detail emerging from the Google trial. Perplexity’s growth isn’t without challenges; it has faced allegations of aggressive web scraping and a recent security audit flagged critical vulnerabilities in its Android app, deeming it potentially unsafe “Our testing highlights critical vulnerabilities in Perplexity AI that expose users to a variety of risks, including data theft, reverse engineering, and exploitation”.
Anthropic: Known for its safety-conscious approach and Claude AI assistant, Anthropic has developed features like ‘Advanced Research’ which synthesizes information from multiple sources, including integrated apps like Asana and Zapier. This connectivity is facilitated by the open Model Context Protocol (MCP) standard now adopted by major players including OpenAI and Microsoft. While powerful, Anthropic’s deep research can be time-consuming, and the company’s own CISO has highlighted the security complexities surrounding increasingly capable AI agents.
Antitrust Shadows and Market Realities
The backdrop to Apple’s considerations is the intense legal and competitive pressure on Google. The DOJ is actively seeking remedies to counter Google’s search monopoly, potentially banning the very type of exclusive default deals Google holds with Apple and others. Google, in turn, is fiercely resisting, with counsel calling the DOJ’s demands “extreme” and “fundamentally flawed,”, and CEO Sundar Pichai warning they could amount to a “de facto divestiture of search”.
This regulatory uncertainty creates an opening for rivals. Even OpenAI has expressed interest in potentially acquiring Chrome if divested. Apple, while exploring alternatives, remains financially tied to its current Google pact, with Cue admitting he has lost sleep over the potential loss of revenue sharing. Still, the technological tide appears to be turning, with Cue asserting, “There’s enough money now, enough large players, that I don’t see how it doesn’t happen.”.
Apple’s own AI efforts have been perceived as lagging, adding urgency to its partnership strategy ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference starting June 9.
