Apple plans to revamp its web browser to be AI-centric, giving Google’s ‘AI Overview’ a run for its money.
The news was revealed in yesterday’s testimony from Apple in the US Department for Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit against Google’s parent company Alphabet.
Apple’s Senior VP of Services, Eddy Cue, told the court that the tech giant is “actively” looking into redesigning its Safari web browser to include AI features.
Cue reportedly said that Safari shares fell for the first time last month because of users turning to AI tools for search.
Google recently launched its AI search feature ‘AI Overview’ that gives summarised AI-generated responses to search queries.
The function means users don’t have to flick through multiple websites to find the information they need – having a major impact on search behaviour and search advertising.
Apple’s interest in AI search is a major threat to Google, as many IPhone customers use Chrome. The news sent Google shares tumbling, wiping $150 billion from its market value.
At the heart of Google’s lawsuit is an allegation from the DOJ that the company has monopolised search, and therefore digital advertising markets.
Last month, the US courts decided Google manipulated ad auctions and restricted competitors.
As the three-week lawsuit continues, Google has been urged by judges to divest the company and sell its search browser Chrome. OpenAI expressed interest in buying Chrome during the trial.
These moves from leading tech giants signal a growing shift towards the convergence of AI and search.
