Apple working on AI search engine to take on Perplexity - ChatGPT, set to debut with iOS 26 update next year: Report

After looking for for to purchase AI startup Perplexity, orchard apple tree is at present looking to compete with the company with the launch of its own AI based web search tool next year, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The new tool is reportedly being dubbed internally as World Knowledge Answers and is said to be integrated into Siri voice assistant and eventually also make its way to Safari and Spotlight.

The new service is being described by some executives inside the company as an “answer engine” and is aimed at making Siri and Apple's operating systems a plce where users can look up inofrmation from across the internet, similar to the feature provided by ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI Mode.

The new feature will reportedly be made available by relying on large language models (LLMs) which could come in part from Google. Interestingly, the Bloomberg report claims that a formal agreement between Google and Aple was reached this week for the iPhone maker to evaluate and test a Google developed AI model to help power Siri.

The new search experience in Siri is said to include an interfac that uses text, photos, videos and local point of interest. It could also include an IA powered summarization system in order to make the results more digestible and accurate than the current system.

The Cupertino based tech giant is reportedly looking to use the same underlying search system for both the World knowledge feature and the already announced and delayed Siri revamp that can search through a user's device using natural language.

What is Apple planning for Siri?

Apple is reportedly looking to develop three core components in its quest to rebuild Siri: a planner, a search system for web and devices and a summarizer. The planner is said to be aimed at interpreting voice and text inputs and decide how to respond, the search system to scan the web or the user's personal data and the summarizer for pulling all of the information into a coherent answer.

Apple is said to be looking to power siri with third party AI models with a new project called Glenwood. The iPhone maker is leaning towards using a custom-built AI model by Google for the summarizer. This model would run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute severes, which is also used by the company while routing Siri queries to ChatGPT.

Google is said to have already delivered the technology to Apple and both companies are now fine tuning and testing it. The company is also considering using Google models for the planner function as well but it is still evaluating on on relying on Anthropic's model or even its in-house models.

Notably, Apple was reportedly previously consiering using Anthropic model for its Siri revamp but could not close the deal due to the high price tag demanded by AI startup. Anthropic reportedly demanded $1.5 billion a year for its tech while Google was open to more favourable financial terms.

The revamped Siri and search changes are said to be coming with a software update that is being internally called Luck E and could correspond to iOS 26.4 update that may arrive in March next year.

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