Aug 8 • General discussion
Apple’s New ‘Answers’ Team Is Quietly Building a ChatGPT Alternative
Apple used to say they didn’t need a Chatbot? Now they’re building one.
After partnering with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri, Apple insisted that they weren’t falling behind — and that they didn’t believe users wanted a full-scale AI assistant.
But a lot has changed in a year.
Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes — and why Apple is shifting toward AI-powered search.
🧩 1. Siri Still Isn’t a Real Search Tool
Apple Intelligence (their new AI platform) can:
- Summarize notifications
- Rewrite text
- Clean up photos
- Translate messages
But it can’t search.Siri still struggles with complex queries — often punting users to ChatGPT or even Google results.
That’s a problem — especially on screen-less devices like the HomePod.
🧠 2. Google Still Owns Apple’s Search Layer
Apple never built its own search engine.Instead, it earns ~$20B/year from keeping Google as the default.
But that deal is under pressure from the U.S. DOJ, and the future is uncertain.
At the same time, consumer behavior is shifting:People are using ChatGPT and Perplexity not just for answers, but instead of traditional search.
Even Eddy Cue (head of Apple Services) admitted that AI-based search is the future — and Apple is now exploring partnerships with players like Perplexity.
🔍 3. Meet “Answers”: Apple’s New AI Search Team
Earlier this year, Apple quietly formed a new team:AKI (Answers, Knowledge and Information)
Led by Robby Walker (ex-Siri), the team is tasked with:
- Building a ChatGPT-like answer engine
- Crawling the web to power Apple’s own search
- Exploring a standalone app and back-end infrastructure for Siri, Spotlight, and Safari
New job listings confirm it: Apple is now hiring engineers with search algorithm and engine development experience.
The message is clear: Apple’s building a native AI search layer — they’re just doing it the Apple way: slow, private, and product-integrated.
💡 Final Thought
Apple’s stance on AI is changing.
Whether through partnerships or their own engine, they’re heading toward one outcome:A Siri that doesn’t hand off to ChatGPT — but answers you directly.
More updates coming as this unfolds.
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Apple’s New ‘Answers’ Team Is Quietly Building a ChatGPT Alternative
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