Apple Is Finally Getting Serious About AI With Google

For a while now, Apple's journey into the artificial intelligence landscape has felt somewhat lackluster. Many observers and users felt that the tech giant, typically a leader in innovation, was falling behind in the AI race.

Apple's Underwhelming AI Debut

Late last year, the highly anticipated debut of Apple Intelligence was met with a lukewarm reception. Many in the tech community who expected a groundbreaking reveal from Silicon Valley royalty were left unimpressed. Following this, Apple took the step of integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT for certain limited functions within its ecosystem. While functional, this move was widely seen as Apple waving a white flag, admitting it needed to rely on an external partner to compete.

A New AI Search Engine on the Horizon

However, for those concerned that Apple is losing its edge against tech giants like Google, there's a new development. According to a report from Bloomberg’s well-regarded Mark Gurman, a major shift is coming. Gurman has indicated that Apple is planning to launch its own AI-powered web search tool in the spring of 2026. This move would position Apple to directly challenge established and emerging players like OpenAI and Perplexity AI.

The Google Gemini Connection

So, what's powering this ambitious new plan? All signs point to a surprising collaboration with an old rival. This development appears to be directly linked to earlier reports that Google was close to integrating its Gemini AI into Apple Intelligence.

This partnership gained more public attention during a heavily scrutinized antitrust trial concerning Google's monopoly over internet search. During the proceedings, Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed that plans to bring the company's generative AI, Gemini, to Apple devices were not only active but that a rollout would begin later this year.

Gurman's latest column solidifies these rumors, stating, “The companies (Apple and Google) reached a formal agreement this week for Apple to evaluate and test a Google-developed AI model to help power the voice assistant.” Given Gurman's strong track record with Apple predictions, this is a significant indicator of what's to come. It will be fascinating to watch if these two competitors can work together long enough for Apple to finally make its mark in the AI arena, even as it continues to compete with Google's own Pixel devices.