Apple’s upcoming AI chatbot could be its big ‘answer’ to ChatGPT and Google

By Admin

04 Aug, 2025

In the rapidly intensifying race for artificial intelligence dominance, Apple is finally setting the stage to unveil its counterstrike to ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. Long criticized for its sluggish approach to generative AI, the Cupertino-based giant is now making bold moves to catch up   starting with the creation of a new internal team named AKI (Answers, Knowledge, and Information).

Apple's Late But Strategic AI Entry

Despite being one of the most valuable companies globally, Apple has struggled to keep up with competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, whose generative AI tools have already transformed user experiences across devices and platforms. Apple’s much-hyped AI framework, Apple Intelligence, announced at WWDC last year, has faced persistent delays and controversies, particularly regarding its lackluster Siri enhancements and issues with accuracy.

However, Apple CEO Tim Cook remains optimistic and determined. In a recent address to employees, Cook remarked that AI could be as transformative as the internet, emphasizing that Apple is not merely participating in this revolution   it's playing to win.

Enter the AKI Team: Apple's Answer Engine in the Making

Apple’s latest move comes in the form of the AKI team, a newly formed internal group tasked with creating a ChatGPT-like search experience. The initiative is led by Robby Walker, a senior director who once spearheaded Siri’s development. After setbacks in Siri’s AI integration, Walker has returned to the frontline, joined by other veterans of the Siri team, to develop what insiders are calling an “answer engine.”

This answer engine is designed to crawl the web and deliver comprehensive responses to general knowledge queries   much like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Search Generative Experience. While it’s still early in development, Apple is reportedly considering a dedicated app for this new AI tool, along with seamless integration into future versions of Siri, Spotlight, and Safari.

A Shift in Philosophy

Interestingly, this move marks a shift in Apple’s stance. The company had previously dismissed the need for a chatbot, citing minimal consumer demand. Yet, the market’s rapid evolution seems to have prompted a rethink. Currently, Siri can redirect queries to ChatGPT, and Apple has also hinted at possible collaborations with AI search providers like Perplexity AI. But if Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s report is accurate, Apple is preparing to stand on its own AI legs with a proprietary chatbot.

A Call to Innovators

To fuel this transformation, Apple has begun recruiting for the AKI team. A job listing on Apple’s careers page reads:

“Our work fuels intuitive information experiences across some of Apple’s most iconic products, including Siri, Spotlight, Safari, Messages, Lookup, and more. Join us in shaping the future of how the world connects with information!”

Conclusion: The AI Battle Heats Up

Apple’s renewed focus on AI, especially its efforts to build a first-party search assistant, suggests a strategic pivot that may redefine user interaction across its ecosystem. While its competitors may have had a head start, Apple’s deep integration across hardware and software gives it a unique edge   if it can execute in time.

With the AKI team laying the foundation for Apple’s AI ambitions, the company’s next act may not just be about catching up   but about reshaping the very way we interact with intelligent technology.