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On Fri, 9 May, 12:02 AM UTC
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Google contests Eddy Cue's claim that Apple users are searching less - 9to5Mac
In court testimony yesterday, Apple SVP Eddy Cue told the judge that usage of search in Safari fell for the first time ever in April, suggesting users are turning to AI alternatives like ChatGPT instead. This led to Google investors getting cold feet on the search giant's outlook, with the company stock dropping about 8% in response. However, Google has now formally contested Cue's comments in a company blog post. Google released a short statement on its blog that seems to run counter to what Cue said yesterday. Google said that it continues to see increasing engagement with search, including on Apple devices. Here's what Google said in full: We continue to see overall query growth in Search. That includes an increase in total queries coming from Apple's devices and platforms. More generally, as we enhance Search with new features, people are seeing that Google Search is more useful for more of their queries -- and they're accessing it for new things and in new ways, whether from browsers or the Google app, using their voice or Google Lens. We're excited to continue this innovation and look forward to sharing more at Google I/O. While there isn't enough detail to fully explain the discrepancy, perhaps Cue was referring to usage inside Safari and Google is suggesting that usage through other means on Apple's platforms -- through Google's apps in the App Store for instance -- makes up for that gap. It's also worth noting that Cue made his comments in the context of a court hearing over whether the lucrative Apple-Google search deal should be allowed to continue, under the guise of whether Google has an anticompetitive monopoly on the search market. Obviously, Apple wants that deal to remain in place, as it profits tens of billions of dollars per year from the enterprise. So, it is in Cue's interests to depict the deal as outmoded and increasingly irrelevant, such that it is not monopolistic in nature and should remain. Cue also indicated that Apple would be adding alternative AI-powered search providers like Anthropic and Perplexity to Safari as search engine options in the coming months.
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Google Disputes Apple VP's Claim of Safari Search Traffic Decline
Google has issued a rare public statement seemingly contradicting Apple senior VP Eddy Cue's courtroom testimony that Safari browser searches declined for the first time in April 2025. Cue's comments, made during the ongoing U.S. Justice Department antitrust lawsuit against Google, triggered a 7.51% drop in Google's stock price on Wednesday. In a post to its blog The Keyword, under the title "Here's our statement on this morning's press reports about Search traffic," Google said: We continue to see overall query growth in Search. That includes an increase in total queries coming from Apple's devices and platforms. More generally, as we enhance Search with new features, people are seeing that Google Search is more useful for more of their queries -- and they're accessing it for new things and in new ways, whether from browsers or the Google app, using their voice or Google Lens. We're excited to continue this innovation and look forward to sharing more at Google I/O. The dispute centers around the $20 billion agreement making Google the default search engine on Apple devices. While testifying, Cue attributed the alleged search decline to users switching to AI services like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. Cue added that he believes AI services will eventually replace conventional search engines like Google. As a result, Apple will need to add them as options in Safari in the future. Cue said the company had already held discussions with Perplexity about browser integration.
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Google challenges Apple SVP Eddy Cue's court testimony about declining Safari search usage, asserting continued growth in search queries across Apple devices and platforms.
In a surprising turn of events, Google has publicly contested Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue's recent court testimony regarding a decline in Safari browser searches. The dispute has ignited a debate about the future of search technology and the impact of AI on traditional search engines.
During the ongoing U.S. Justice Department antitrust lawsuit against Google, Apple's Eddy Cue made a significant claim that Safari browser searches had declined for the first time in April 2025 1. Cue attributed this alleged decline to users increasingly turning to AI alternatives such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. He further stated that AI services would eventually replace conventional search engines like Google, necessitating their integration into Safari as search options in the future 2.
In response to Cue's testimony, Google took the unusual step of issuing a public statement on its blog, "The Keyword." The tech giant firmly asserted:
"We continue to see overall query growth in Search. That includes an increase in total queries coming from Apple's devices and platforms." 12
Google emphasized that as they enhance Search with new features, users are finding it more useful for a broader range of queries. The company also highlighted that people are accessing Google Search in new ways, including through browsers, the Google app, voice commands, and Google Lens 12.
The conflicting narratives have had a significant impact on the market. Following Cue's testimony, Google's stock price dropped by approximately 8% as investors grew concerned about the search giant's future outlook 1. This reaction underscores the high stakes involved in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit and the perceived threat of AI to Google's core business.
At the heart of this dispute lies the lucrative $20 billion agreement that makes Google the default search engine on Apple devices 2. This deal is a crucial aspect of the antitrust lawsuit, with regulators questioning whether it gives Google an unfair advantage in the search market.
Cue's testimony, suggesting that the deal is becoming less relevant due to the rise of AI alternatives, could be seen as an attempt to defend the agreement's continuation. By portraying the search landscape as evolving and competitive, Apple may be trying to argue that the deal is not monopolistic in nature 1.
Despite the conflicting claims, both Google and Apple seem to acknowledge the growing importance of AI in search technology. Google's statement hints at ongoing innovations in search, while Apple is reportedly in discussions with AI companies like Perplexity about potential browser integration 2.
As the antitrust lawsuit progresses and AI continues to evolve, the search engine landscape is likely to undergo significant changes. The outcome of this legal battle and the integration of AI into search functionalities could reshape how users access information online in the coming years.
Alphabet's stock plummets after Apple executive's testimony reveals declining Google search traffic and potential shift towards AI-powered search alternatives.
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Apple's senior executive Eddy Cue reveals plans to integrate AI-powered search engines into Safari, potentially disrupting the longstanding partnership with Google and reshaping the search landscape.
47 Sources
47 Sources
A recent antitrust ruling against Google may have significant financial implications for Apple. The tech giant could potentially lose up to $20 billion annually due to changes in its search engine deal with Google.
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7 Sources
Chegg, an educational technology company, has filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming that the tech giant's AI-generated search summaries are diverting traffic from its website and harming its revenue. The case highlights growing tensions between content creators and AI-powered search engines.
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25 Sources
The US Department of Justice has proposed significant remedies to address Google's monopoly in search and search text advertising, including potential divestiture of Chrome and Android, data sharing with competitors, and restrictions on AI development.
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