Apple’s new AI chatbot could be its big ‘answer’ to ChatGPT and Google

Despite being one of the world's most successful companies, Apple has faced challenges in advancing its artificial intelligence endeavors, especially as competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have taken a commanding lead in the sector. At last year's WWDC, Apple unveiled its AI features titled Apple Intelligence, but the rollout has not gone as smoothly as anticipated. The long-awaited update to Siri has faced multiple delays, and other AI functionalities have come under fire for their inaccuracies, falling short compared to rivals such as Google's Pixel and Samsung's Galaxy series. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, remains determined to compete in the AI landscape. Earlier this month, he communicated to his team that he believes AI could be as transformative as the internet, signaling that Apple is committed to making significant strides in this field. In a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it has been revealed that Apple is developing a simplified version of ChatGPT that includes search capabilities. Interestingly, Apple had previously downplayed the demand for a chatbot, suggesting minimal consumer interest in such technology. Currently, Siri can utilize ChatGPT to tackle complex queries, and Apple has hinted at collaborating with other AI search platforms like Perplexity to enhance user experience. However, if Gurman's insights are accurate, Apple is pivoting towards creating its own chatbot specifically designed for search functionality. Earlier this year, Apple established a new team named Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI), aimed at constructing a ChatGPT-like search interface. This team is spearheaded by Robby Walker, a senior director at Apple who now reports to AI Chief John Giannandrea. Walker previously oversaw Siri's development but stepped back from those duties due to delays in launching an AI-enhanced version of the voice assistant. The AKI team includes several other prominent members from the Siri group, all working towards building an 'answer engine' that can traverse the web to address general knowledge inquiries. Though the project is still in its nascent stages, reports suggest that the answer engine will be capable of web crawling to provide responses to a variety of questions. Additionally, Apple is exploring the development of a dedicated app for this tool, as well as the necessary backend infrastructure to support these features in future updates to Siri, Spotlight, and Safari. The tech giant has also begun recruiting for the AKI team, promoting the opportunity on its careers page with a message about creating intuitive information experiences across its iconic products, including Siri, Spotlight, and more.