Apple is preparing to integrate third-party AI search providers—including Perplexity AI and Anthropic—into its Safari browser, a move that signals a significant shift in how users may access information online.

The news was revealed by Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, during his testimony in the U.S. Justice Department’s ongoing antitrust trial against Google parent company Alphabet Inc. Cue said the move comes amid a notable decline in traditional web searches via Safari—marking the first such drop, recorded in April 2025.

Cue attributed this change to the growing popularity of AI-based search tools such as Perplexity, OpenAI, and Anthropic, which are beginning to rival traditional engines in functionality and user engagement. “People are switching to AI because of the extra features,” he told the court, suggesting that Apple needs to respond to the shifting landscape.

While Apple currently earns an estimated $20 billion annually from its agreement to set Google as the default search engine on its platforms, the tech giant is now expanding its offerings. Apple has already partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT integration to Siri in iOS 18, and reports indicate that support for Google’s Gemini is in development. However, Cue clarified that AI search tools won’t replace Google as the default for now—they’ll be offered as alternative options.

According to Bloomberg, Apple has held advanced talks with Perplexity AI and expressed interest in integrating other AI providers such as Anthropic, DeepSeek (China), and Elon Musk’s xAI (Grok). Cue confirmed that negotiations with Google had broken down last year due to disagreements over contract terms, paving the way for Apple’s deeper collaboration with OpenAI.

The shift underscores Apple’s increasing focus on artificial intelligence, both as a competitive differentiator and as a response to user behavior. Cue emphasized that while AI search still has room to grow in terms of accuracy and indexing, its rapid uptake cannot be ignored.

In response, Google has publicly disputed claims of declining search usage, stating its user engagement remains strong.

The integration of AI-driven search providers into Safari could not only reshape user habits but also further disrupt the already evolving search engine industry—challenging the long-standing dominance of Google and potentially opening new revenue and innovation paths for Apple.