Apple reportedly planning AI search tool to compete with OpenAI

This year's Apple event is just around the corner, but we're already getting a potential sneak peek at what's to come.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is planning on launching an AI search tool, deeply integrated with its voice assistant Siri, known internally in the company as World Knowledge Answers.

The "answer engine" is Apple's attempt at its own version of what OpenAI and Perplexity are doing with their AI search tools. 

Using large language models, Apple's AI search tool will allow users to look up information across the web with text, photos, videos, and "local points of interest."  The AI search tool will provide users with the relevant information via an AI-generated summary from an overhauled Siri voice assistant. Along with its Siri integration, Apple plans to also integrate the tool in its Safari web browser as well as its Spotlight search tool on iOS devices.

However, while Apple is reportedly working with OpenAI to bring the latest GPT-5 model to Apple Intelligence in iOS 26, the company is turning to Google to help with its AI search project, at least according to Bloomberg's well-sourced Apple forecaster Mark Gurman.

Bloomberg notes that the iPhone maker entered into an agreement recently to test out the search giant's latest Gemini AI model with its Siri voice assistant. Interestingly, news of this deal comes after a federal judge barred Google from entering exclusive search deals with companies like Apple.

A major AI update on the way for Siri?

In its current form, Apple's voice assistant Siri appears extremely outdated when compared to its AI counterparts like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Siri is left providing basic information to users while competitors can provide longer, more deeply researched, back-and-forth responses in a conversational tone. 

Since Apple announced its own AI suite of tools, Apple Intelligence, a long-awaited Siri overhaul has been planned, but has yet to come to fruition.

That very well may change soon, as Apple is in the midst of rebuilding Siri for the AI era.

While the current Siri is built upon Apple's own technology, the company is looking towards utilizing third-party AI models for the new version of its voice assistant. Bloomberg reports that Apple is leaning towards utilizing Google's Gemini model, which would run on Apple's own servers, for the summarization of Siri's output to users. In addition, Apple has reportedly been utilizing Gemini, Anthropic PBC’s Claude, and its own in-house models for summarization and AI search.

As Bloomberg reports, Anthropic's request of $1.5 billion annually from Apple might push the company to go with Google instead.

The new Siri still isn't scheduled to debut for some time, though. However, Apple's upcoming September event could include a first look at the new AI-powered Siri.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.