Apple Develops Smart Answer Engine To Compete With ChatGPT

Apple intends to develop a simplified in-house chatbot to compete with ChatGPT, as part of the artificial intelligence (AI) race in which the company is lagging.

Earlier this year, Apple formed a new team called "Answers, Knowledge and Information" (AKI), which is developing a smart search experience similar to ChatGPT, based on AI technologies, and it can navigate the internet to provide direct answers to users' queries, according to a report published by Bloomberg.

The formation of this team represents a strategic shift in Apple's AI approach. In 2024, the company partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its Siri voice assistant, rather than developing its own conversational system. The company appears to be moving toward offering internal AI services, which may include a standalone app, along with additional support for search technologies in Siri, Spotlight, and Safari browser.

According to the report, the new team is led by Robby Walker, who previously oversaw the development of Siri. Recent job postings indicate that Apple is seeking expertise in search algorithm and engine development. With this new direction, Apple faces challenges in keeping pace with rapid developments in artificial intelligence.

Earlier this year, it announced the postponement of the launch of an improved version of Siri, indicating only that it would roll out within the next year.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call that the company is open to acquiring other companies to accelerate its AI plans, as part of its Apple Intelligence initiative, seeking to make up for its lag in this technological race.