Apple's Strategic Move: Developing AI-Powered 'Answer Engine' to Rival ChatGPT and Google Search

Apple Reportedly Working on a ChatGPT-Like Search Experience

Apple is internally working on a "ChatGPT-like search experience" to instantly generate answers for users, according to a report from Bloomberg on Sunday. The Answers, Knowledge and Information team, or AKI, is a team within Apple looking to make internal AI products for its devices. The company is reportedly building an "answer engine" -- an AI-powered service that pulls from information online to answer general queries. It's also possible that a separate app might be developed. This AI search could power Siri, Spotlight and Safari. A representative for Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. With companies like Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI all investing billions in AI development, Apple has notably been absent from the race. Instead of rushing to build AI models that could power the next generation of Siri, Apple opted to partner with OpenAI and leverage its technology. With the launch of the iPhone 16, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, AI on the iPhone that could assist in text generation, photo editing and summarization. The implementation, however, felt half-baked to many, and the rollout was slow. Reports surfaced earlier this year that Apple was looking to purchase Perplexity, an AI company that's taking on Google with an AI-powered search engine. Adding Perplexity to Apple's portfolio would certainly help propel the company in the AI race. It would also lessen its reliance on Google. Currently, Apple has a lucrative $20 billion per year deal with Google to allow it to be the default search engine on Apple devices. That's also why Apple hasn't built its own competing search engine -- although, Apple argues that even if the deal didn't exist, we can't assume it'd have made a competing search engine. That deal is now on shaky ground after the Department of Justice's antitrust division sued Google and won, declaring the company is maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search. As a judge weighs remedies in this case, Apple has been barred from participating in the case, meaning Apple could lose $12.5 billion in annual revenue if the DOJ forces how Google makes these deals. Creating a new AI-powered search engine within Apple might unwind the strands between Google and the iPhone maker, but could lead to more competition in the online search and AI markets.

Could Apple create an AI search engine to rival Gemini and ChatGPT? Here's how it could succeed

Timely and strategic release with broader success of AI search engines. With the launch of Apple Intelligence, Apple sought to enter the AI space after a somewhat late entry. However, several delays of its most sought-after feature, including Siri 2.0, have made it difficult to keep up with more established competitors. A new report details an AI product in the works that may help bolster Apple's position. On Sunday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in the Power On newsletter that Apple's recently-assembled Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) team is working on a ChatGPT rival that will give users easier access to the breadth of information available on traditional search. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The report said that the product is meant to function as an "answer engine" that can provide responses to general knowledge questions, leveraging the web. This is a major pivot from the current approach, as Apple never developed its own search engine, even in the pre-AI era. Once it came to incorporating generative AI, it relied on OpenAI's ChatGPT to feed users responses that Siri can't access. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) Apple is reportedly also exploring the creation of a standalone app for this experience and back-end infrastructure that can power the search capabilities for other Apple offerings, including Siri, Spotlight, and Safari, in the future. This could be a major win for users as it would allow them to access the information they need from the web conversationally and natively within their favorite apps in the Apple experience. The standalone app could also pose a worthy rival to those of other AI searches on the market, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Perplexity, all available for download on iOS now -- with the advantage that it would be native to the Apple ecosystem of tools. Increasingly, more users are turning to AI search engines to conduct their queries for the above-mentioned queries. The Pew Research Center just released a report showing that Google users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears, likely because they find all of the information they need in the overview. As a result of this demand, more and more companies have released their own takes on AI search engines, making it strategic for Apple to explore this area. This move is particularly relevant now, as the US Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Google has entered a remedies phase, which may put an end to the multi-billion-dollar deal that makes Google the default search engine on Apple devices. Apple's advantage is that it can integrate its own version of an AI search engine directly into its products, which billions of people rely on every day. If Apple can create a search experience that is functional and actually helpful in getting users the information they need faster, it could not only be a feature users enjoy when searching for new information, but also optimize other experiences on their phones. For example, imagine a Siri that could pull information in real time from the web, understand user intent, and serve the responses conversationally. While this is, in large part, what Siri 2.0 was supposed to be, a native AI search engine could further enhance its capabilities by having it pull directly from an Apple product rather than relying on a third-party stripped-down experience. The AI search experience could also be accessible in apps like Messages or Mail to access real-time information about what you are sending communications about, which could be a useful tool for users. Another added bonus is that it will likely keep the same look and interface of Apple's ecosystem of devices, which Apple users are not only familiar with, but also prefer. For example, when I am asked which chatbot is the best fit for users, I typically tell users who are deep into the Google ecosystem of tools and devices to use Gemini, because, while it offers the overall same use case as the others, it has the same look and feel of the google products which make sit a better fit. However, it is difficult to beat Google, which has dominated the search market for decades. For example, Bing attempted to catch up with its own integration of AI, and while it did contribute to a surge of over 40 million daily active users, it still pales in comparison to Google's market share. According to StatCounter, as of July 2025, Google holds 90% of the search engine market share worldwide, while Bing only holds 4%. While these numbers are discouraging, it doesn't seem like Apple is seeking to compete in the AI space, but would rather prefer to add on to what its users can take advantage of and make its suite of AI tools more robust.

Apple Is Reportedly Working on an AI Search Tool to Rival ChatGPT, Gemini

Apple is working on a ChatGPT-like product, and it is being created by a new team assembled earlier this year called Answers, Knowledge and Information, or AKI, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Internally, they are calling the product an "answer engine," and it will offer AI-powered search capabilities popularized by OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini AI. Currently, Apple lacks a product of that kind. While users can connect Siri and Apple intelligence with ChatGPT to make it crawl the web and find answers to their queries, Apple doesn't have its own standalone app to do the same. According to Gurman, the AKI team is exploring whether the rumored "answer engine" could fill that gap. They are also working on improving the search capabilities of Siri, Spotlight, and Safari. The team is led by Robby Walker, who reports directly to Apple's AI chief John Giannandrea. Interestingly, as Gurman points out, after unveiling OpenAI as its first AI partner at WWDC24, Apple had dismissed the idea of building its own chatbot, stating there wasn't enough consumer interest. A lot has changed since then. Several of the AI-powered Siri features Apple announced back then have yet to roll out, leading to lawsuits and internal shake-ups. Meanwhile, generative AI chatbots have seen a sharp rise in popularity, with about 36% of users now opting for them over traditional search engines. Unsurprisingly, according to an earlier Bloomberg report, CEO Tim Cook is now betting big on AI. He reportedly believes the AI revolution is "as big or bigger" than the internet, smartphones, cloud computing, and apps. In an all-hands meeting, sources tell Bloomberg, he also told staffers that despite a late arrival, Apple can dominate the AI space. "Apple must do this. Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab... We will make the investment to do it," he said, while drawing comparisons to the company's past. "We've rarely been first... There was a PC before the Mac; there was a smartphone before the iPhone; there were many tablets before the iPad; there was an MP3 player before iPod," he added. For now, though, Apple's only major AI product is Apple Intelligence. It can summarize content, compose or rewrite text, edit photos, and generate Genmoji images, with translation capabilities expected to arrive soon. Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Apple reportedly has a 'stripped-down' AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT in the works

Bloomberg reports that Apple has a dedicated team to create an in-house chatbot and search experience. Apple has fallen far behind in the competitive market of AI-powered chatbots, but it may have a plan for an in-house option that aligns with the company's "not first, but best" philosophy. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple created a team called "Answers, Knowledge and Information" earlier this year that's tasked with developing a "stripped-down rival to ChatGPT." Forming this team represents a major change in direction from Apple's earlier stance on artificial intelligence when the company partnered with OpenAI in 2024 to infuse Siri with ChatGPT instead of developing its own AI chatbot. Now, Gurman reported that this new Apple team will instead develop in-house AI services for a "new ChatGPT-like search experience" that can crawl the web to respond to questions. These new capabilities could be a standalone app, as well as support AI capabilities for Apple's Siri, Spotlight and Safari, according to Gurman's sources. The team is reportedly led by Robby Walker, who previously oversaw Siri, and has been advertising job openings that mention wanting experience with search algorithms and engine development. Beyond the Answers, Knowledge and Information team, Apple has experienced some growing pains when it comes to artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, the company said it would delay the release of the new-and-improved Siri, adding only that it would roll out "in the coming year." However, Apple is aware of the need to accelerate its Apple Intelligence program to stay competitive. In the latest third-quarter earnings call, the company's CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is open to acquisitions to fast-track its AI roadmap.

Apple likely building ChatGPT-like tool to rival Google Search

U.S. tech giant Apple is likely on course to building its own AI 'answer engine', a stripped-down version of ChatGPT, that can respond to open questions across the web. The team is known as Answers, Knowledge, and Information(AKI), and the company is also hiring for roles that require expertise in search algorithms and engine development. Job postings on Apple's careers website describe the work as: "Our work fuels intuitive information experiences across some of Apple's most iconic products, including Siri, Spotlight, Safari, Messages, Lookup, and more. Join us in shaping the future of how the world connects with information!"

Apple now looking to rival ChatGPT with a new in-house 'Answers' team: report - 9to5Mac

According to the latest edition of Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Apple has a new plan up its sleeve to rival the competition in the AI search space. This is a major pivot from Apple's previous stance, where the company said it didn't want to develop a chatbot. Apple Intelligence has been off to a rocky start, to say the least. The abilities that have shipped, such as Genmoji and Notification Summaries, haven't exactly been stellar. Apple has still failed to ship its all-new Siri, and has since delayed its launch by over a year. Apple would like to change that, though. Earlier this year, they formed a new "Answers, Knowledge, and Information" team internally, per Bloomberg: Despite philosophical reservations among some Apple leaders, the company is clearly heading in that direction. Earlier this year, Apple quietly formed a new team called Answers, Knowledge and Information, or AKI. This group, I'm told, is exploring a number of in-house AI services with the goal of creating a new ChatGPT-like search experience. In the past, Apple has expressed interest in working with AI startups like Perplexity, which almost exclusively specializes in an AI search engine experience, so this news isn't exactly a shock. Per the report, the new team is led by Robby Walker, a former Siri executive who previously lost control after this year's delays. For context, Robby Walker held a widely reported on meeting this year where he called the Siri delays 'ugly and embarrassing.' Given the fact that this effort just started, it'll likely be a while before we see the results of it. That said, it's still exciting to hear that Apple is working on an AI search experience of sorts. I personally find that quite useful. What do you think about the possibility of Apple launching an AI search experience? Is this something that excites you? Let us know in the comments.

Apple's Answers team is a bigger deal than it might seem - 9to5Mac

A Bloomberg report over the weekend suggested that Apple has created a new Answers, Knowledge and Information team as part of its Apple Intelligence efforts. While that might not sound like a huge deal, effectively just catching up with what others are doing, I actually think it's about the smartest thing the company could be doing right now in terms of addressing Siri's reputation ... Earlier this year, Apple had to admit that plans for three new Siri features are "going to take us longer than we thought" - with no real explanation, and no new delivery date. As we noted at the time, these are the very features which promise to make Siri truly intelligent: The company also quietly deleted an iPhone 16 ad in which it promoted these features, and added new disclaimers to its website. Many criticized the company for advertising non-existent features, and even John Gruber - who Apple used to make a statement - had had enough. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman Apple formed a new team earlier this year known as Answers, Knowledge and Information. This group, I'm told, is exploring a number of in-house AI services with the goal of creating a new ChatGPT-like search experience. The team is led by Robbie Walker, the Siri exec who earlier this year called the delays "ugly and embarrassing". Siri has been criticised as being dumb for a whole host of reasons. "<HomeKit device> is not responding" being one among many. But as common as smart homes may be among 9to5Mac readers, they are still a relatively niche activity. The primary reason Siri is considered stupid by ordinary iPhone users is that it is woefully unable to answer many of even the simplest of questions that arise in everyday life. I just asked ChatGPT to give me examples of the typical everyday questions users ask, and here is what it said: Siri can answer a few of these sorts of questions. However, its hit-rate is very low compared to ChatGPT or even old-style Alexa. If Apple's new Answers team can deliver on this, that's a huge win ahead of the far trickier business of things like on-screen awareness and in-app actions. Bringing Siri even vaguely close to ChatGPT performance on these sorts of everyday questions will instantly transform people's perceptions of its intelligence and usefulness. Given that this is very technically simple thing to do, it's the very definition of a quick win for Siri.

Apple is working on a ChatGPT alternative -- but is it too late?

Apple has been lagging behind in the AI world. As the likes of OpenAI and Google barge on ahead, Apple is looking for new ways to keep up with the crowd, and with a new team brought in, they might have the answer. According to Bloomberg, Apple is now working on an 'AI answers' tool. The details of this remain unclear, but a team has been brought in specifically to develop a stripped-down rival to ChatGPT. Currently, Apple has stayed clear of delving into the world of chatbots. While they have their AI Apple Intelligence tool, they have never introduced a function similar to ChatGPT or Gemini. In the past, the company insisted that this wasn't necessary and instead focused on giving its users access to ChatGPT for that need. Mark Gurman, the author of the Bloomberg article, highlights that the new team from Apple is called Answers, Knowledge, and Information. They are rumoured to be working on an "answers engine". In other words, a tool that can respond to questions using information from across the web. It is still unclear if this would be a standalone tool or integrated into one of Apple's existing products. Gurman also noted that Apple is currently advertising for new members of the team. The job adverts focus on experience with search algorithms and engine development. Apple has ended up surprisingly far behind in the AI mission. While it has launched Apple Intelligence, and brought out updates to the tool since its release, it is lagging far behind. They have no chatbot (which has quickly become the public's favourite AI tool), and, while it has experimented with generative AI, Apple has never quite got a grasp on this area either. The company's original plan seemed to be to piggyback off the OpenAI tools, offering these through Apple devices. However, now Apple seems to be trying to catch up in a fast moving world. Unless it can move quickly, Apple is stuck in a tricky position. Even if it does launch a ChatGPT-like tool on its devices, it will be coming out years after its competitors. By that point, the likes of OpenAI and Google will be working on AI browsers, video tools and other more advanced technologies.

Apple's new 'Answers' team is developing a stripped down ChatGPT experience

It's no secret that Apple is falling behind in the AI space. Other companies like Google have embraced things like AI search, whereas Apple has taken its sweet time tooling around with some AI-powered tools that make up the core of Apple Intelligence. Per Mark Gurman's latest Power On Newsletter, that may be changing in the future. Apple has apparently been quietly putting together an "Answers, Knowledge, and Information" team, also known as AKI. This AKI team is headed by Robby Walker, a senior director at Apple who reports to John Giannandrea, Apple's senior vice president of Machine Learning and AI. Robby was moved to the AKI team after a shakeup in the wake of Siri feature delays. The team's goal is fairly straightforward: to build a "new ChatGPT-like search experience," says Gurman. As Gurman states, the initiative is still in its early days, but Apple already has job listings posted for engineers. Not much else is known. The team is working on the aforementioned system to crawl search results and give answers instead of redirecting people directly to the search results. This "answer engine," as Gurman calls it, would be able to crawl the web to gather information and respond to questions like ChatGPT does. A standalone app and backend infrastructure plans to power everything may be in the works. One of the job listings specifically mentions search algorithms and engine development, so Apple may also be working on search engine stuff. It's no secret that Apple Intelligence can use the help. Response to Apple's AI-powered tools has been lukewarm, and while Cupertino has studied how to integrate AI into its operating systems more aggressively, it hasn't been terribly happy with what's seen so far. Siri's AI upgrade is still in the works with an expected release date of spring 2026, so it's likely that AKI's work will be directly integrated into Siri and Apple's other products if they can get it done on time.

Apple is eyeing a ChatGPT-like search, but it must focus beyond Siri

Siri needs an AI overhaul, but Apple must really focus on Safari to reap the benefits. It's no secret that Apple is currently struggling to deliver a smash-hit AI product, the way Google has served with Gemini, or Microsoft has achieved with Copilot. The company has been trying a similar overhaul with Siri, but those plans have been beset by delays, and it is only expected to see the light of day in late 2026. The delay spooked Apple to such an extent that the company inked a stopgap deal with OpenAI, which helped integrate ChatGPT with Siri, and broadly, with the Apple Intelligence stack. But it seems Apple is working on a radical in-house solution, one that would essentially be a watered-down approach to ChatGPT, but with internet search capabilities. Siri, but flavored like ChatGPT Lite? According to Bloomberg, a newly formed Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) team at Apple is working on a ChatGPT-inspired search framework for Siri. "While still in early stages, the team is building what it calls an "answer engine" -- a system capable of crawling the web to respond to general-knowledge questions," says the report. In addition to Siri, Apple reportedly plans to integrate the search functionality within Spotlight and Safari, as well. Spotlight has already received a massive functional upgrade in macOS Tahoe, so it won't be surprising to see it evolve into a universal answering hotspot, one that covers local data and information sourced from the internet. Recommended Videos It may sound chaotic at first, but it's not entirely alien. How does Siri, Spotlight, or Safari know when I want an AI to answer my query, or launch a web Search? Well, look no further than Dia. The universal search box in the AI-focused browser dynamically switches between "chat" and "Google" mode as you type your search keywords. When you type "Birkin bag" in the text field, it defaults to web search mode. But as you type "where to buy a Birkin bag," the search field automatically switches to chat mode and offers the answer, just the way ChatGPT or any other AI answering engine like Perplexity would handle your questions. Right now, when you summon Siri on your iPhone and ask it a question that requires searching the internet or just pulling knowledge from an information bank, it opens a prompt box asking whether the question can be offloaded to ChatGPT. Once you agree, ChatGPT kicks into action and offers the required information. Of course, it's not seamless. With Siri gaining web search capabilities and enhanced natural language comprehension (akin to a ChatGPT or Gemini), it would be much easier for users to simply ask anything they want and get it answered. In its current state, Siri feels like a relic of the past, especially when compared to products such as Google's Gemini Live or ChatGPT's voice mode. In fact, Gemini works better on iPhones than Siri. As far as Apple's plans go, building something as advanced as ChatGPT or Gemini seems like a far-fetched goal. As per Bloomberg, plans for "LLM Siri" have kept running into delays, and the recent exodus of top AI talent casts more doubts over Apple's ambitions of reimagining Siri for the AI era. It's not just about a phone assistant Building a next-gen virtual assistant - just the way Google Assistant has evolved into Gemini, or Copilot at Microsoft - is not the only area where Apple is currently lagging far behind the competition. In fact, Big Tech is now as focused as much on chatbots as it is on web browsers. Agentic workflows are now being seen as the next big thing in the field of AI. In a recent interview, co-founder and chief of Perplexity, Aravind Srinivas, explained why browsers are more suitable for AI than AI chatbots and apps: "You get full transparency and visibility, and you can just stop the agent when you feel like it's going off the rails and just complete the task yourself, and you can also have the agent ask for your permission to do anything. So that level of control, transparency, trust in an environment that we are used to for multiple decades, which is the browser." Unfortunately, Apple is severely lagging behind in the browser wars. With the introduction of AI Mode in Search and deeply integrating Gemini across its Workspace ecosystem, Google has changed how deeply AI can change web browsing and web-based workflows. Safari desperately needs an AI overhaul Upstart browsers such as Dia and Perplexity's Comet have proved that the era of legacy tools such as extensions is coming to an end. Soon, skills and custom agents will take over. Less than a week ago, Microsoft introduced Copilot Mode in Edge. I have spent a few days with the new AI-powered tools in Edge, and I believe it's a bold (and dramatically more practical) new direction for web browsers. In comparison, Safari misses out on any such AI-driven experiences. From a context-aware sidebar to multi-tab contextual actions, Apple's browser is sorely missing out on the conveniences that AI is bringing to modern age web browsers. Assuming Apple succeeds at building its own ChatGPT-like answer engine, it would take a massive undertaking to build meaningful features around it in Safari. Right now, what Apple needs to do is not just build an answering engine, but pay close attention to the competition. I am sure Apple is monitoring the shifting landscape of AI agents and browsers. It simply has to pick up pace, or as CEO Tim Cook hinted at in a recent all-hands meeting, the company "will make the investment to do it." Will Apple acquire a hot AI lab like Perplexity or Anthropic? Only time will tell, but the company certainly has to take a more holistic approach with AI than just focus on building the next great AI chatbot.

Apple's AKI team to fix "embarrassing" Siri shortcomings

Apple has formed an internal unit called "Answers, Knowledge, and Information" (AKI) to develop in-house artificial intelligence services aimed at creating a search experience similar to ChatGPT, according to Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter for Bloomberg. This move represents a shift from Apple's previous public stance against developing its own chatbot. The company's current AI initiative, Apple Intelligence, has encountered difficulties. Features already released, including Genmoji and Notification Summaries, have reportedly been underwhelming. Furthermore, the planned comprehensive upgrade to Siri has been significantly delayed, with its launch pushed back by over a year. Despite some internal philosophical reservations about generative AI chatbots among executives, Apple established the AKI team earlier this year. The group's specific mission is to explore and develop proprietary AI capabilities focused on delivering a ChatGPT-like search functionality directly within Apple's ecosystem, Bloomberg reports. Samsung bets on Android XR to rival Apple's $3,500 Vision Pro Apple has previously shown interest in potential partnerships to address this area, including discussions with AI startup Perplexity, which specializes exclusively in AI-powered search. The formation of the AKI team indicates a move towards an in-house solution. The unit is led by Robby Walker, an executive with a history on the Siri team. Walker reportedly lost responsibility for certain Siri duties following the acknowledged delays to the virtual assistant's overhaul. In a widely reported meeting this year, Walker characterized these Siri delays as "ugly and embarrassing," highlighting internal challenges and the pressure to improve Apple's AI offerings. Given the recent formation of the AKI team and the scale of developing a competitive AI search experience, the report suggests any tangible results from this internal effort are not expected to materialize in the immediate future.

Apple Might Be Building a ChatGPT-Style Answer Engine

Apple has reportedly held internal discussions to acquire Perplexity Apple is reportedly developing an in-house answer engine that will be powered by artificial intelligence (AI). As per the report, the company has also formed a new team that has been tasked with developing this ChatGPT-style answer engine product. Interestingly, the reported move comes after the Cupertino-based tech giant has downplayed the role of chatbots in its ecosystem and claimed that Apple will not be making any such product. On the flip side, the answer engine could also be the iPhone maker planning for a future when the deal with Google for its search engine does not exist. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman wrote in the Power-On newsletter that Apple has formed a new team dubbed Answers, Knowledge, and Information or AKI. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the development, the report claimed that this group is tasked with building an in-house "ChatGPT-like search experience." For those who find the term "answer engine" confusing, it was popularised by AI startup Perplexity, which called its AI-powered web search experience answer engine. Essentially, it is a dual system, where the first finds relevant URLs and information from the web based on search queries like a typical search engine, and the second collates the information to respond in a conversational manner using a large language model (LLM). Gurman says that the AKI team is led by Apple's senior director, Robby Walker, who reports to John Giannandrea, Apple's senior vice president of Machine Learning and AI Strategy. As per Walker's LinkedIn profile, he was made the head of the new team in April. The team reportedly features several team members who previously worked on Siri. Apple's version of the answer engine will reportedly be a system that responds to general-knowledge questions. The technology is said to be added to other Apple services such as Siri, Spotlight, and Safari. The company is reportedly still considering whether to offer the technology in a standalone app. Interestingly, in June, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, told The Wall Street Journal that the company was not considering building a "bolt-on chatbot," because that did not align with the tech giant's vision of the AI technology. This reported answer engine could also help Apple, in case Google loses its antitrust case against the US Department of Justice, where a key issue is the latter's $20 billion (roughly Rs. 1.7 lakh crore) a year deal with the iPhone maker to remain the default search engine on Apple devices.

Apple's AI plans are taking shape, quietly but definitely - Enter AKI

Apple is apparently building a team called AKI, Answers, Knowledge & Information. It is Apple's first attempt to work on a conversational AI chatbot. Looks like Apple's finally stepping into the AI ring and in true Apple style. It's doing it with quiet precision and just enough mystery to make you wonder if this was the plan all along. As per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company has put together a new internal team called "AKI" (Answers, Knowledge and Information). Their mission? Build an "answer engine" that can scan the web and respond to general-knowledge queries. Basically, this could be Apple's most direct move yet to take on ChatGPT and Google Gemini. For the longest time, Apple's been tiptoeing around the chatbot gold rush. When it first revealed its AI plans last year, the company made one thing very clear: it wasn't building its own ChatGPT rival. Instead, it partnered with OpenAI to bake ChatGPT into Siri a clever move, but also one that felt like Apple was testing the waters rather than diving in. Internally, top software and marketing heads reportedly weren't even sure if users wanted chatbots to begin with. But while Apple played the waiting game, the rest of the world jumped in headfirst using generative AI for everything from school assignments to internet searches and Excel hacks. That shift in consumer behaviour seems to have finally nudged Apple off the fence. Enter AKI short for Answers, Knowledge and Information Apple's newly assembled team led by senior director Robby Walker, under AI chief John Giannandrea. They're now reportedly working on both a standalone app and the backend tech needed to supercharge Siri, Spotlight, and Safari. Apple's also started hiring search engine engineers, hinting that this is much more than just a Siri glow-up. It's Apple laying the groundwork for its own generative AI ecosystem. With the AKI team now in place, Apple's finally making its most direct move to reclaim the AI narrative. Whether this "answer engine" shows up as a shiny new app or works quietly behind the scenes in Siri or Safari, one thing's obvious Apple's done watching from the sidelines. And if history is any indicator, it might be showing up late, but it rarely shows up unprepared.

Apple's new 'Answers' team set to build ChatGPT-style app - The Economic Times

Apple has formed a new team, known as Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI), to develop a ChatGPT-style AI app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The team is working on an "answer engine" using web data, alongside plans for a standalone app and improvements to Siri, Spotlight, and Safari search functions.Apple has put together a new team to build a ChatGPT-style app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This team, called Answers, Knowledge and Information or AKI, is working on creating an "answer engine" that can respond to questions using web-based information. The report also mentions that Apple is exploring a standalone app, as well as building new back-end infrastructure to support search in Siri, Spotlight, and Safari search. Until now, Apple has been resistant to making its own AI chatbot, citing reasons such as low consumer interest. Instead, it partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT into Siri, giving users access to "world knowledge" without having to develop the technology itself. But it's now clear that many users rely on AI chatbots like ChatGPT for various purposes, such as their search capabilities. While ChatGPT is now integrated with Apple's personal AI system, Apple Intelligence, doesn't support search features -- a sign that Apple may be falling behind in the AI space. Gurman also pointed out that Apple is now hiring for this team, looking for people with experience in building search engines and algorithms. The move comes shortly after the company's chief executive Tim Cook, told staff following earnings call, that the AI revolution is "ours to grab". He also assured them that Apple will be investing heavily to make it a reality. Apple reported a revenue of $94.04 billion in its third quarter, up 10% from last year. Net profit reached $23.4 billion, or $1.57 per diluted share, a 12% increase in earnings per share.

Apple Sets Sights On AI Comeback With New Team Developing ChatGPT-Like Search Tool To Transform Apple Intelligence And Strengthen Its Position In The AI Market

Apple is lagging behind compared to its peers in the AI industry, but a new report claims that the company is planning to upgrade its Apple Intelligence platform with new tools. Apple has been accused of being left behind, which has reflected in the company's overall revenue for the third quarter, which could have been further improved. The new plans will serve to be a turning point for Apple's AI endeavors. The company previously stated that it will not develop a chatbot similar to ChatGPT, but it appears that hardships in the field have changed its mind. It has been more than a year since Apple Intelligence saw daylight, and so far, it has failed to make a dent in the industry, resting behind the competition in basic tasks. Moreover, one of the unique features of Apple Intelligence was delayed until next year, and even though Tim Cook showed enthusiasm at its earnings call, the public begs to differ. Personalized Siri would have changed the entire iPhone experience, and iOS is indeed showing age due to its absence. Prominent analyst Mark Gurman notes in his latest Power On newsletter that Apple would like to change its approach and accept changes which it has been avoiding for a while. Apple formed its new "Answers, Knowledge, and Information" or AKI team earlier this year, which internally worked on various AI services, including a tool that will provide users with a ChatGPT-like search experience. Despite philosophical reservations among some Apple leaders, the company is clearly heading in that direction. Earlier this year, Apple quietly formed a new team called Answers, Knowledge and Information, or AKI. This group, I'm told, is exploring a number of in-house AI services with the goal of creating a new ChatGPT-like search experience. Apple has been in talks with different AI startups, including Perplexity, which specializes specifically in AI search engine experience. This shows that the company has been working on some AI-powered features and services for a while. In my opinion, a dedicated AI-powered chatbot with search is one of the things lacking in iOS 18 or the forthcoming iOS 26 platforms, which is convincing users that Apple is far behind in the AI race. Gurman also states that the new team is led by Robby Walker, who has previously worked on Siri but lost control of it due to the delay of updated AI features. Considering the company just began working on the new utilities, it will take a while before the final product is ready to be released to the public. Moreover, Apple's entry into the AI Search experience could push other companies to offer their own rendition of the technology. What are your views on Apple launching its own AI-powered search experience similar to ChatGPT? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Apple is Developing ChatGPT Like ProductPe

OpenAI owned ChatGPT is one of the most widely used AI tool by consumers and enterprises to get their work done. Apple is upping its game in the artificial intelligence (AI) segment. The company is reportedly developing an answer-style engine which is going to be similar to ChatGPT. OpenAI owned ChatGPT is one of the most widely used AI tool by consumers and enterprises to get their work done. The highlight of the platform is that it is a chat style product. It is interesting to note that Apple already has an existing partnership with OpenAI for integrating ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence (AI). Read More - Vivo Y400 5G Launched in India: Price and Specs According to Mark Gurman, Apple has formed a new team called AKI (Answers, Knowledge, and Information). As per Gurman, the task for the team is to build an in-house ChatGPT-like search experience. Apple has not yet able to convince the consumers its superiority in the AI experience. What was promised with Siri is already available in some Chinese phones today, but not in an iPhone. We know the saying that when Apple does something, it does it best. However, at this point, the best is taking a tad too long, again. With Apple, almost every detail stays under wraps until the launch day. Thus, we will have to wait and see what happens.

Apple Is Building Its Own "Answers Engine" Similar to ChatGPT and Gemini

Apple is hiring experienced individuals with expertise in search algorithms and engine development to work on its Answers engine. Apple has a new internal team working on a Perplexity-like answers engine, which will respond to your questions by searching the results across the web and might be integrated into Siri or Safari. This comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who discusses Apple's new team called Answers, Knowledge, and Information, which is working on an "answers engine". This will work similarly to ChatGPT or Perplexity, aggregating answers from various sources on the web in a concise manner. We are still not sure how and where it would work. Whether it will be a standalone app or work with Siri, Safari, or Apple's other products like the HomePod. But Gurman pointed out that Apple already has job listings for applicants who have experience with search algorithms and engine development. Apple is trying to stand on its own in the current competitive AI environment, so this new answer engine could be a step in that direction. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently shared that the company is "open" to acquiring AI startups, with interest in companies like Perplexity. The answers engine could also be a way for Apple to do away with Google Search. Whatever the case, it would be interesting to follow what Apple's new team develops and whether the product can compete with ChatGPT, Perplexity or Gemini.

Apple AI Team Working on ChatGPT Rival | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. That's according to a report Sunday (Aug. 3) by Bloomberg News, which says the so-called "Answers, Knowledge and Information" (AKI) group is building an "answer engine" -- a system capable of crawling the web for responses to general-knowledge questions. The report says Apple is exploring a standalone app, as well as new back-end infrastructure aimed at powering search capabilities in future iterations of Siri, Spotlight, and Safari. Bloomberg notes that Apple has also recently begun advertising job openings for the team on its careers site: "Our work fuels intuitive information experiences across some of Apple's most iconic products, including Siri, Spotlight, Safari, Messages, Lookup, and more. Join us in shaping the future of how the world connects with information!" Many of these listings specifically mention experience with search algorithms and engine development, leading Bloomberg's Mark Gurman to conclude that while a finished product may still be a long way off, the company is unmistakably working on" a stripped-down, Apple-built approach to ChatGPT-like search." Apple CEO Tim Cook said last week that the company planned to "significantly" step up its AI investments and dedicate more staff toward building its Apple Intelligence features. Speaking during an earnings call, Cook said Apple is making "good progress" on infusing more AI capabilities in Siri, which are due next year. The tech giant aims to come up with a "more personalized" Siri and for AI features in iOS to be "deeply personal, private and seamlessly integrated," the CEO said. His comments came two days after reports that investors had grown disillusioned with Apple's lack of progress on the AI front. Apple's investors have reason to be nervous about the company's "AI crisis," PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster wrote July 23. "Apple Intelligence doesn't appear in any serious public Gen AI rankings," Webster wrote. "It lags behind even X.ai's Grok. That's not a public relations problem. It's a strategic misstep. Maybe even a crater-sized hole that could prove Apple's fatal flaw." Webster added that while Apple's rivals are "accelerating, iterating and launching new GenAI tools and agents across products and platforms," the iPhone maker is banking on the idea of catching up by weaving OpenAI into Siri..." a year from now."

Apple building in-house 'Answers' team to rival ChatGPT: Report

Apple has reportedly created a new internal team to develop its own AI-powered search tool, similar to ChatGPT. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this project is being handled by a newly established group called "Answers, Knowledge, and Information" (AKI), marking a shift in Apple's earlier approach to AI search. When Apple announced its Apple Intelligence features at WWDC 2024, it stated clearly that "there wouldn't be a homegrown chatbot." Instead, Apple partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri for broader knowledge-based queries. However, Gurman reports that internally, some Apple leaders believed "consumer interest in chatbots was limited," and the focus stayed on utility features like rewriting text, summarizing notifications, and editing photos. While Siri received some improvements, it still lacks consistent performance. For anything beyond basic tasks, Siri often directs users to ChatGPT -- though "through a stripped-down interface" -- or simply forwards them to a generic Google web search, which can be frustrating, especially on devices like the HomePod that don't have screens. Apple's reliance on Google is significant. Alphabet is believed to pay Apple nearly $20 billion per year to remain the default search provider. But this partnership is under antitrust scrutiny and "may soon be disrupted." Apple's CFO has even acknowledged the company's growing services revenue is tied to that deal. At the same time, consumer behavior is shifting. More users are now turning to AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity for advanced search tasks. Apple's services chief Eddy Cue has reportedly told regulators that "AI-based search is the future." To prepare for that future, Apple formed the AKI team earlier this year, led by Robby Walker, a senior director who previously led Siri. After being reassigned due to Siri's slow progress -- described internally as "ugly and embarrassing" -- Walker now heads the company's push toward a more advanced search experience. The AKI team is working on what Gurman calls an "answer engine," designed to crawl the web and deliver AI-powered responses. This system could eventually power Apple's built-in services like Siri, Spotlight, Safari, and even the Messages app. A dedicated app for this functionality is also being explored. Apple is actively hiring for this initiative. Job listings mention roles focused on "search algorithms" and building AI systems that respect user privacy. Some roles specifically mention developing models that can answer "users' questions using their personal documents with privacy at the forefront." While Apple Intelligence begins rolling out this year, the more advanced, personalized Siri experience won't launch until 2026, according to the report. Until then, Apple's focus appears to be building a stronger foundation for AI-powered search -- one that doesn't depend on third parties. Apple is also said to be exploring partnerships with AI-focused search startups like Perplexity, broadening its options beyond current collaborations. While no specific timeline has been confirmed, internal moves -- including a restructured leadership team and active hiring across AI roles -- point to Apple's deepening push into AI-powered search. Though a full rollout may still be some time away, the creation of the AKI team marks a significant shift in Apple's search ambitions.

Apple's AI Plans are Quiet but Ambitious

Apple's AI answer engine, developed by AKI, will power some key products like Safari, Spotlight, and Siri. Despite a late entry in the AI race, Apple is finally making some big moves to re-establish its dominance in the smartphone industry. According to , a tech reporter from Bloomberg, Apple has put up a new internal team called 'AKI' - Answers, Knowledge, and Information - to develop a "search engine" capable of scanning the web and answering general user queries. If Apple succeeds in developing an advanced AI search engine, it could compete directly with Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT. Acknowledging its previous limitations, Apple announced its artificial intelligence model, Apple Intelligence, during the Worldwide Developers Conference in early 2024. The Apple AI marked a significant advancement for the company. Additionally, Apple introduced a range of AI features, many of which are now available on its devices.

Apple's Answer Engine Aims for Dynamic, ChatGPT-like Responses

Tim Cook Confirms Apple's New Focus on AI Answer Engine to Transform Search and Siri Experience Apple might be building a generative AI-based answer engine, akin to ChatGPT. According to , the tech giant has assembled a discreet team of experts building AI tools to enhance Siri and other Apple services. Inside teams are setting up systems to deliver conversational answers to complex user queries. The tech giant is taking a significant step into the generative AI arena, which OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft currently dominate. The report also states that Apple has recently been increasing its funding of Artificial Intelligence research and has been making strategic hires of veterans and prodigies in machine learning and natural language processing. According to media sources, CEO Tim Cook said the "AI revolution is as big or bigger than the internet, smartphones, cloud computing, and apps. Apple must do this. Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab. We will make the investment to do it."

Apple's new "AI answers" team: A Google rival in the making?

Apple bets on private, personalized AI to reshape how we search for information Apple is quietly assembling what could be its most ambitious artificial intelligence project yet. Internally dubbed the Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) team, this new unit is focused on building a smart, conversational "answer engine" designed to rival Google Search, ChatGPT, and other generative AI platforms. Unlike Siri's past attempts at voice-based help, which often ended with "Here's what I found on the web," this is Apple's shot at building a true knowledge assistant. One that doesn't just fetch information, but understands it, explains it clearly, and tailors responses to the user's personal context, all while staying within Apple's strict privacy guardrails. Also read: Apple working on ChatGPT-like answer engine, forms dedicated AI team: Report The AKI project is led by Robby Walker, a veteran of Apple's Siri team who has publicly acknowledged the assistant's early shortcomings. His new mandate is broader: create an AI system that can understand complex user queries, retrieve relevant knowledge from the internet and the user's personal data, and do so naturally and securely. The AI this team is developing isn't just for Siri. It's expected to show up across the Apple ecosystem in Spotlight, Safari, Mail, Messages, Calendar, and possibly even as a standalone app in the future. This omnipresence is where Apple's real edge lies: while Google dominates web search, Apple controls the environment in which a billion users spend their digital lives. Also read: Apple loses four key AI engineers to Meta's Superintelligence Lab amid Siri struggles: Report At first glance, trying to compete with Google in search may seem futile. After all, Google processes billions of queries daily and has a two-decade lead in crawling, indexing, and ranking the internet. But Apple isn't trying to build another Google. It's trying to redefine what search means for the individual user. Where Google's strength lies in offering global answers, Apple's advantage could be contextual understanding. Through system-level access to apps like Notes, Calendar, Mail, and Photos, Apple can offer answers that combine public knowledge with private context. For example, instead of Googling "how to get to my doctor's appointment," you could just ask Siri or Spotlight, and it would already know which appointment, where it is, and suggest the best route based on your usual preferences and traffic. If executed well, this kind of deeply integrated, hyper-personalized AI could change how people think about information retrieval entirely, shifting from generic search to meaningful, contextual answers. What truly sets Apple's approach apart is its privacy model. Unlike Google, which monetizes search through ads and data collection, Apple is building its AI on on-device models and a new secure cloud system called Private Cloud Compute. This means most of your interactions stay on your device or are encrypted in transit. In a time when trust in Big Tech is eroding, Apple's AI pitch is simple but powerful: "We don't know who you are, and that's the point." If it can deliver performance comparable to Google and OpenAI while keeping data local, that's a very appealing alternative for millions. The AI Answers team is still in its early stages, with major updates expected to roll out in iOS 27 and the broader Siri reboot in 2026. Until then, Apple continues to rely on external models like ChatGPT, and is reportedly exploring partnerships with Anthropic, Google, and Perplexity AI. But the formation of the AKI team signals a long-term ambition: Apple wants to own the brain behind the interface. It doesn't just want to display results, it wants to be the trusted source of answers across your digital life.

Apple working on ChatGPT-like answer engine, forms dedicated AI team: Report

Apple is even said to be exploring the idea of launching a separate app for this engine. Apple has reportedly formed a new "Answers" team to build its own version of a ChatGPT-like tool. According to Bloomberg, this new "answer engine" is being designed to help users find general information from across the web. Apple is even said to be exploring the idea of launching a separate app for this engine. At the same time, the company is also said to be working on a new backend system that could later be integrated into the future versions of Siri, Safari, and Spotlight. To move this project forward, Apple has started hiring for various roles in the team. Job postings on Apple's careers website describe the work as: "Our work fuels intuitive information experiences across some of Apple's most iconic products, including Siri, Spotlight, Safari, Messages, Lookup, and more. Join us in shaping the future of how the world connects with information!" Also read: Top Meta engineers are joining xAI without massive compensation, claims Elon Musk Some of the job listings specifically ask for candidates with experience in building search engines and working with search algorithms. While the finished product may take time to arrive, it's safe to say that Apple wants to build an alternative to existing AI chat tools and do it the Apple way. Also read: Apple Q3 earnings 2025: Record iPhone 16 sales, AI investments and more At the same time, Apple is also reportedly in talks with OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) and Anthropic (creator of Claude). The company is said to be considering using their AI models to power Siri. Apple has reportedly asked both companies to train special versions of their models that can run on Apple's own cloud servers. A new and improved Siri based on this technology is expected to launch in 2026. However, if Apple decides to partner with OpenAI or Anthropic, it would suggest that its own AI models may be falling behind in the evolving world of generative AI.