Inside the Apple Google Search Disruption: AI Rivals, Safari Shake-Up, and $150B Fallout
This unfolding saga within the tech rivalry between Google and Apple is about the shifting user behavior in mobile search. In his testimony at the federal antitrust trial, Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, said that searches on Google via Safari declined in April 2025, the first time in 20 years. He attributed it to users getting answers from generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity AI. The Apple-Google search disruption reflects a growing shift away from traditional search engines to instant answers from AI.
The Rise of AI Tools Like ChatGPT and Perplexity
Cue indicated that Apple might be looking into closer integration with these AI-based platforms to position them as the default search options within Safari. If this happened, this would be one aspect accelerating the Apple-Google search disruption a lot faster; for long, Google has had a status to be the default search option on Apple devices.
Google Pushes Back on Apple’s Claims
Google issued a statement rejecting the allegations of Apple. Google says that the aggregate volume of queries, incidentally coming from Apple devices, continues to grow. It cites its recent innovations, such as voice search, Google Lens, and app-based enhancements, as the main drivers of engagement.
Further, Google states that the disruption narrative between Apple and Google misrepresents the bigger picture: namely, user activity is on the rise across Google’s ecosystem.
Market Fallout: Alphabet’s $150B Value Drop
The markets reacted swiftly. Alphabet lost more than 7% of its equity value, knocking out nearly $150 billion in market cap. Investors seem concerned about the disruption to the Apple-Google search, indicating some weakening of Google’s grasp on mobile search and rising competition in AI.
Analysts say that this change in default search provider from Google to Apple could seriously impact revenue for both companies.
What’s Next: AI, Search, and the Battle for Default
With all the focus on Google I/O, the company is rumored to offer more AI-powered enhancements to Search. Apple seems to have plans to position itself for a major disruption in mobile search power with AI tools at its core.
This Apple-Google search disruption is not merely the usual tech industry smackdown; it means a crucial moment in the evolution of search and user behaviors and platform control.
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