Apple’s senior VP of services, Eddy Cue, has stated that the company will not create a search engine to compete with Google, citing significant costs and time requirements as the main reasons. This stance was revealed in a motion filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which aims to participate in the antitrust case against Google.
The DOJ is investigating whether Google’s monopoly on general-purpose search engines is anticompetitive. In its proposed remedies, Google has suggested cutting or renegotiating its Apple partnership. However, Cue warns that removing the search deal would ultimately harm Apple and benefit Google.
If the court prohibits Google from sharing revenue for search distribution, Apple would have to choose between two unfavorable options. It could let users continue to use Google as their default search engine without receiving any share of the revenue, or it could remove Google Search from Safari altogether. Cue argues that removing Google Search would harm both Apple and its customers.
Furthermore, creating a general search engine would be “economically risky” for Apple. The company believes that AI chatbots are the next evolution in search technology, rather than building a traditional search engine. To make search viable, Apple would need to adopt targeted advertising as a core service, which contradicts its existing privacy-focused business model.
Cue also emphasizes that only Apple can determine what kind of future collaborations will best serve its users. He warns that the DOJ’s proposed remedies could “hamstring” Apple from fulfilling its customers’ needs.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/26/24329148/apple-eddy-cue-search-engine-ai-google-doj-antitrust-intervene