Yesterday, Apple SVP Eddy Cue testified in court that the use of search in Safari had fallen for the first ever time in April. This suggests users are instead turning to AI alternatives such as ChatGPT.
As a result, Google investors became sceptical about the search giant’s future. The stock of the company dropped by 8%. Google has now officially contested Cue’s comments in an Blog post by company
Google posted a brief statement on its blog which seems to contradict what Cue said yesterday. Google said it continues to see an increase in engagement with search including on Apple devices. Google’s full statement is
: We continue to see overall search query growth. This includes an increase in the total number of queries coming from Apple devices and platforms. As we add new features to Google Search, people find it more useful for a wider range of queries. They also access it in new ways and for new things, whether they are using the Google app or browsers, their voice, or Google Lens. We’re excited about continuing this innovation and we look forward to sharing even more at Google I/O.
There isn’t sufficient detail to fully explain this discrepancy. Perhaps Cue was referring usage within Safari, and Google is suggesting usage through other Apple platforms — such as Google’s apps on the App Store — will make up for the gap.
It is also worth noting that Cue’s comments were made in the context a court hearing on whether the lucrative Apple and Google search deal should continue. The hearing was held under the pretext of whether Google had an anticompetitive search monopoly. Apple obviously wants the deal to continue, as it makes tens and tens billions dollars per year. Cue has an interest in portraying the deal as outdated and irrelevant, so that it does not have a monopolistic nature and should be retained.
Cue indicated that Apple will be adding AI-powered search providers such as Anthropic and Perplexity, to Safari in the coming months. Add 9to5Mac’s Google News feed.FTC: we use auto affiliate links that earn income. More.
