Apple is reportedly developing an AI-powered web search tool, expected to launch in 2026.

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reports that Apple intends to create an AI-powered web search tool next year. This project, unrelated to the iPhone 17 launch on September 9th, aims to rival services like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Earlier speculation in June suggested Apple might acquire Perplexity AI.

Perplexity is valued at $18 billion, and some financial analysts estimated its acquisition could cost Apple $25-$30 billion. Apple's largest acquisition to date was Beats Audio in May 2014 for $3 billion. While Apple has $160 billion in cash, Gurman suggests an acquisition is unlikely. The Beats Audio purchase included the Beats Music streaming platform, which had 111,000 subscribers and later evolved into Apple Music, now with over 94 million subscribers.

Entering the web search market could jeopardize Apple's agreement with Google, which currently sets Google as the default search engine on Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This partnership between Apple and Google has been in place for several years.

Gurman also indicates that Apple is considering using Google's assistance to enhance Siri. The updated "Personal Siri," expected with iOS 26.4 next spring, should be able to access texts, emails, and calendar data to answer complex questions.

Apple had created an advertisement for "Personal Siri" but postponed its release. Furthermore, Google recently revealed its Magic Cue feature for the Pixel 10 series, which anticipates users' needs by proactively providing relevant information. The Magic Cue is currently exclusive to the Pixel 10 series but may expand to older Pixel models, possibly as far back as the Pixel 6.

In other news, a new book called "Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" will be released in a few months. The book will explore the technological advancements of the 21st century.