ChatGPT might be coming to Safari — here's why Google should be worried
Users may soon have a choice of AI in their search

Apple is exploring the idea of bringing an AI tool like Perplexity to Safari — a potential shake-up to the decades-long dominance of Google in the search space. Google is currently the top search engine with 4.9 billion users.
The news emerged during testimony in the U.S. Department of Justice's ongoing antitrust trial against Google.
Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, revealed to Bloomberg that the company is seriously considering letting users select from a wider range of AI search engines in future versions of Safari.
Why this matters
Google currently pays Apple an estimated $20 billion per year to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. If Apple begins giving users more AI-driven options — even as secondary choices — it could signal a significant shift in how we access information online and search revenue flows in the tech industry.
Cue also noted that Safari search traffic declined for the first time in April 2025, attributing the drop to users increasingly turning to AI platforms like ChatGPT to answer questions and find information.
What AI search engines could be included? While no official timeline has been announced, Apple is reportedly looking into:
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a possible contender, especially with its voice and memory features that rival Gemini Live.
- Perplexity AI, the fast-growing search engine known for real-time citations and concise summaries
- Anthropic’s Claude, which is earning praise for its reasoning and clarity.
Adding these tools into Safari wouldn’t necessarily replace Google as the default (at least not yet), but it would allow users to access these conversational AI engines directly from the browser interface.
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Bottom line
Apple has remained relatively quiet in the AI arms race, but this move suggests it’s paying close attention to how generative AI is changing user behavior.
With its own new Apple Intelligence features expected to debut at WWDC 2025, this may be just the beginning of a much bigger shift in how Apple incorporates AI across its ecosystem.
For now, Google Search is still the default, but the way you search from your iPhone might look very different in the near future. What are your thoughts on using AI within Safari? Let me know in the comments.
More from Tom's Guide
- I put ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude through the same job interview — here’s who got hired
- I’ve tested every major AI chatbot in 2025 — these 5 prompts never fail me
- Claude is quietly crushing it — here’s why it might be the smartest AI yet













Amanda Caswell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling YA author, and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media.
Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together.
Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a bestselling author of science fiction books for young readers, where she channels her passion for storytelling into inspiring the next generation. A long-distance runner and mom of three, Amanda’s writing reflects her authenticity, natural curiosity, and heartfelt connection to everyday life — making her not just a journalist, but a trusted guide in the ever-evolving world of technology.
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