Post by : Rameen Ariff

Apple is preparing to launch a new web search tool powered by artificial intelligence next year, aiming to make its Siri voice assistant and operating systems more useful for finding information across the internet. Internally, the project is called World Knowledge Answers, and it could eventually be added to the Safari web browser and Spotlight search, which is available from the iPhone home screen.

The goal is to turn Siri and Apple devices into a place where users can quickly get answers to their questions, similar to ChatGPT, Google’s AI overviews, and other AI-powered search tools. The technology relies on large language models, the same technology that powers generative AI.

Apple is also considering using some technology developed by Google for this project. The two companies recently made an agreement allowing Apple to test a Google AI model to help improve Siri’s search capabilities.

The new system will combine text, photos, video, and local information, and it will include a summarization feature to provide concise and accurate answers more quickly than Siri does now. Apple has not confirmed these plans publicly, and both Apple and Google declined to comment.

After the news broke, Apple shares rose 3.8% in New York, closing at $238.47, marking the biggest one-day gain for the stock in nearly a month.

Why Siri Needs a Revamp

Today, Siri can answer basic questions about famous people, events, movies, and sports. But it struggles with more complex questions, often relying on Google or ChatGPT for results. Since its release in 2011, Siri has been an important feature for Apple, but it has lagged behind other AI tools.

Recently, a US judge allowed Apple to continue its deal to make Google the default search engine on its devices. That arrangement generates around $20 billion in revenue each year. While this gives Apple financial security, the company is still moving forward with AI-based search development.

Apple executives have noted that the number of Google search queries from Apple devices has fallen recently, showing that AI search tools are becoming real competition.

How the New Siri Will Work

The new Siri overhaul, internally called Linwood or LLM Siri, will make the voice assistant more capable of using personal data and on-screen content to answer questions. It will also allow users to control devices more precisely using voice commands.

Apple is building the new search feature around three main parts:

1. Planner – interprets what users are asking and decides how to respond.

2. Search system – scans the web or the user’s device for information.

3. Summarizer – compiles the results into a simple, clear answer.

Apple is considering using third-party AI models, including Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude, for some of these functions. These models will work alongside Apple’s own Foundation Models to preserve user privacy when searching personal data.

Siri Teams and Leadership

Several Apple teams are working on this project: the Siri team led by Craig Federighi, the AI division headed by John Giannandrea, and Apple’s services unit run by Eddy Cue. Mike Rockwell, creator of the Vision Pro headset, is leading part of the effort, and Robby Walker, former head of Siri, is also contributing.

Apple is considering using the same underlying technology for both the AI web search and the upcoming ability to search through a user’s device more accurately. This feature will allow users to find images, files, and other content more quickly.

The AI-powered search will likely be released with a software update called Luck E, corresponding to iOS 26.4, expected as early as March. The base iOS 26 update will arrive earlier with the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup.

Visual and AI Upgrades

Beyond search, Apple is planning a redesign of Siri’s interface and adding a health AI agent to support a paid wellness subscription service in 2026. Other upcoming Siri updates will focus on improving conversation abilities for home devices.

These changes are part of Apple’s broader plan to catch up in AI, where it has fallen behind competitors like Google and OpenAI. Earlier delays led to executive reshuffles and a renewed focus on AI innovation.

Acquisition and Talent Strategy

Apple also explored buying AI startups like Perplexity and Mistral to strengthen its capabilities. The company no longer actively plans to acquire Perplexity but continues to seek talent and technology to support its AI ambitions.

Recently, Apple’s Foundation Models team has faced employee departures. Ruoming Pang, the team’s head, left for Meta, followed by ten more team members. Three additional researchers have joined OpenAI and Anthropic. This turnover highlights the challenge of maintaining top AI talent.

Collaboration and Future Plans

Apple has considered several AI providers. Initially, Anthropic was preferred, but its high cost led Apple to work with Google’s Gemini model. Google and Apple are now fine-tuning this technology together. While Apple keeps its Foundation Models for user data, third-party AI will help improve web search and summarization.

The company is also testing whether AI can be applied to additional Siri features in the future, such as chat-based apps and advanced information tools.