Apple AI Answer Engine Could Radically Disrupt Google Search

Key Points

• Apple AI Answer Engine Team Could Disrupt Google Search
• The team is building an AI-powered answer engine for Apple products
• It could power Siri, Safari, or launch as a standalone app
• Apple hires engineers with search algorithm experience

Apple is diving deeper into AI with a bold new initiative: building its AI-powered answer engine, according to a recent Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman. This move signals Apple’s intent to compete directly with ChatGPT, Google Search, and other leading AI platforms.

The Cupertino tech giant has quietly assembled a specialized team named Answers, Knowledge, and Information. This group is working behind closed doors to create an “answer engine”, an advanced system capable of responding to user questions by pulling insights and facts from across the web.

What sets this apart is that Apple may not stop at just upgrading Siri. This answer engine could become a core feature in various Apple services—including Safari, Spotlight, and potentially even a dedicated app of its own.

Apple is now working on their very own in-house AI search engine to rival Perplexity and ChatGPT.

Having an LLM with world-knowledge and internet access answer questions through Siri and Spotlight would be an incredible addition to Apple Intelligence. pic.twitter.com/wiDWQTOVaR

— AppleLeaker (@LeakerApple) August 3, 2025

The idea is clear: Apple wants to bring AI search in-house, giving users smarter, more personalized responses without relying too heavily on outside technologies like ChatGPT-style models or Gemini 2.5.

This move follows a broader pattern of strategic AI investments by Apple. As covered in our report on Apple’s AI investments, the company has been quietly acquiring AI talent, building infrastructure, and setting the foundation for deeper integration of generative AI into its ecosystem.

IS APPLE BUILDING ITS OWN AI ENGINE?$AAPL is forming a new team… Answers, Knowledge, and Information. Tim Cook will build a ChatGPT-style “answer engine” that could power Siri, Safari, and more.

This comes as $MSFT pushes Copilot, $GOOGL fights antitrust, and $META rolls out… pic.twitter.com/OQdP4QbJKL

— Sam Badawi (@samsolid57) August 3, 2025

Google Deal in Question, Siri Upgrade Delayed

Apple’s potential shift to an internal answer engine also makes sense given the uncertain future of its search deal with Google. For years, Google has paid Apple billions to be the default search engine on Safari. But recent antitrust challenges could threaten that deal, opening a door for Apple to explore its search capabilities.

An in-house answer engine would not only serve as a plan B, but could offer better integration, privacy, and performance across Apple’s ecosystem. This aligns with Apple’s longstanding emphasis on user privacy and hardware-software control.

Gurman: Apple’s New ‘Answers’ Team Eyes ChatGPT-Like Product in AI Push https://t.co/D9IrX4xww8 pic.twitter.com/BKc7W1OICH

— Patently Apple (@PatentlyApple) August 3, 2025

At the same time, Apple’s broader AI rollout has faced delays. While ChatGPT integration into Siri was announced, a fully personalized, AI-powered Siri remains unreleased.

Internally, Apple has reportedly pushed back the launch of an upgraded assistant multiple times, hinting that the company may be holding back until it’s ready to showcase something truly advanced.

This new “Answers” team appears to be at the heart of that effort. Meanwhile, competitors like Meta have been rapidly scaling their tools and infrastructure. Our coverage of Meta’s AI infrastructure shows how aggressively other tech giants are moving in the same direction.

$AAPL BUILDING ITS OWN AI ANSWER ENGINE

Apple is reportedly developing a ChatGPT-style tool to power smarter Siri &Safari responses — potentially launching as a standalone app as it ramps up hiring amid antitrust scrutiny of its $GOOGL search deal. pic.twitter.com/a9QM1DoXWB

— Shay Boloor (@StockSavvyShay) August 3, 2025

Apple’s Answer Engine Could Be a Game-Changer

Apple’s strategy seems to focus on owning the AI experience end-to-end, similar to how it controls its chips, hardware, and operating systems.

That means not only replacing external tools but also offering something new: an AI system that understands context, respects privacy, and runs seamlessly across all Apple devices.

Unlike traditional search engines, an “answer engine” could use generative AI to give direct, conversational answers, skipping the need for users to scroll through links. Think of asking Siri a question and getting a fully formed, accurate response, without having to dig through webpages.

This could also extend to Apple’s other services. Imagine using Safari with AI-powered browsing, Spotlight search that knows what you’re looking for before you finish typing, or even Apple Maps and Messages enhanced by smart suggestions.

Other AI platforms, like Veo 3 for video generation, show how different companies are branching out AI into content, media, and productivity. Apple’s answer engine may serve as the company’s anchor product before expanding into those areas.

Apple is also hiring heavily to make this happen, posting jobs that focus on search algorithm design, natural language processing, and machine learning. These aren’t minor updates. They suggest Apple is serious about becoming a major player in the next generation of AI-powered tools.

If successful, Apple’s answer engine could redefine what we expect from voice assistants, search tools, and digital experiences. And with Google facing mounting pressure, the timing couldn’t be better.