Apple’s ChatGPT-like AI search is in development
Apple is reportedly developing its own artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, designed to rival offerings such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini. A report by Bloomberg reveals that the company has established a new internal team named “Answers, Knowledge and Information” (AKI). This team is responsible for developing in-house AI services, which include a “ChatGPT-like search experience.”
According to reports, the team is being led by Robby Walker, who has previously overseen Apple’s Siri voice assistant. Walker has ascended to the role of senior director within Apple’s AI division, where he reports directly to John Giannandrea, the head of the company’s AI strategy. The report indicates that the AKI team remains in the initial phases of creating a product known internally as a “Answer Engine.” According to Bloomberg, it is a system that can crawl the internet and produce responses to general-knowledge inquiries. Apple is reportedly considering the possibility of transforming this feature into a standalone application. Additionally, the company is looking to incorporate its backend capabilities into future versions of Siri, Spotlight, and Safari search.
The company has reportedly started to list job openings related to this initiative on its careers page, with several listings specifically looking for candidates experienced in search algorithms and engine development. Apple has integrated certain AI-driven search functionalities through its Apple Intelligence platform. However, it still depends on external services, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to handle intricate web-based inquiries processed through Siri. Although Siri is capable of executing basic web searches, it does not possess the conversational skills that AI chatbots such as Gemini or ChatGPT offer. The proposed “Answer Engine” seeks to address this gap by merging Siri’s contextual awareness with the advanced language understanding and response capabilities of contemporary generative AI. The report highlights that development is still in its early stages, and it is possible that Apple may decide against launching the service altogether. Furthermore, it highlights that certain leaders in Apple’s AI division express skepticism regarding the long-term utility and trajectory of ChatGPT-style generative AI tools.
