The Apple-Google Search deal contributes roughly 15% to Apple’s operating income. If that revenue were lost or reduced, Apple has several alternatives, including deeper integration with AI partners like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic, or even launching its own search product within Safari. Apple analyst Gene Munster’s biggest concern is that “this introduces a new risk factor into the investment case – one that may take time to fully resolve.”
Gene Munster for Deepwater Asset Management:
Eddy Cue’s testimony in the ongoing DOJ antitrust case against Google was highlighted by his comment that, for the first time, Safari search volumes declined in April. That’s a negative signal for Google, given that I estimate it accounts for roughly 95% of Safari search traffic. It also raises concerns for Apple’s search placement deal, as the underlying economics of traditional search appear to be coming under pressure.
Cue added that he believes AI-native search providers will eventually replace traditional engines like Google. Apple is actively exploring the integration of AI-powered search features into Safari and could potentially partner with companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, or Anthropic.
Even in a worst-case scenario, where the Google deal is broken up or loses its economic force, Apple has levers to pull to monetize its massive user base. For example, by either charging users directly or partnering with another AI search provider, Apple could aim to generate just $1 per month per active user. With approximately 1.5B active users (and 2.2B active devices), that alone could yield $18B in annual revenue, nearly enough to fully offset the estimated $20B per year it currently receives from the Google Search placement agreement… [T]he narrative that Apple is overly dependent on Google Search is over stated. Apple could potentially come out ahead if forced to move in a new direction.
MacDailyNews Take: Google’s search monopoly cannot die quickly enough!
As we wrote earlier this month, “We no longer search with Google as its results do not reflect the depth of the entire web, and skewed by bias, and are laden with paid placements. Google is passé. For far, far better search results than Google, we use Grok 3 either in Safari via x.com/i/grok or in the Grok app for iPhone and iPad.”
The writing is finally on the wall for Google search. It’s all downhill from here.
Google is an online advertising monopoly masquerading as a search engine. Effective antitrust action against Google that restores competition into the the online search and advertising markets would be very welcome (while we’re still here, please)!
The unfortunately ubiquitous search engine is a mechanism for tracking users in order to deliver targeted advertising to them. – MacDailyNews, March 17, 2021
We’d like to see real competition in the online search and advertising markets restored someday. — MacDailyNews, March 20, 2019
With this unprecedented power, platforms have the ability to redirect into their pockets the advertising dollars that once went to newspapers and magazines. No one company should have the power to pick and choose which content reaches consumers and which doesn’t. — MacDailyNews, November 9, 2017
Imagine if your livelihood depended on one company that had not only monopolized web search (and, thereby, basically controlled how new customers find you), but also controlled the bulk of online advertising dollars which funded your business and which they could pull, simply threaten to pull, or reduce rates at any time? Now also imagine if you believe this monopolist basically stole the product of another company that is the very subject of your business? How much would you criticize the monopolist thief’s business practices?
You might guess that it would be a tough road to walk. (We’re only imagining, of course!)
That would be a good example of why monopolies are bad for everyone…
In the meantime, stop using Google search and Google products wherever possible. Monopolies are bad for everyone. — MacDailyNews, July 14, 2016
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Gork…… that would be the Elon owned company.. so NO THANKS..
Point to the spot on the doll where Elon touched you.
I tried Grok by asking it what is the best search engine. It said Google, followed by Bing and DuckDuckGo. No mention of Grog, perhaps because its more than a search engine.
So I asked Grok how to get the best search results: No mention of Grok.
Google: Dominates with over 85% market share due to its sophisticated algorithms, vast index, and personalized results. It excels in delivering relevant, comprehensive results for general queries, images, videos, and news. However, its data collection for ads can compromise privacy, and some users report bias or ad-heavy results.
Bing: A strong runner-up with less than 4% market share, Bing offers similar features to Google, including robust image, video, and map searches. Its AI-powered Copilot provides conversational summaries, and it’s less aggressive with ads. It’s ideal for users integrated with Microsoft products or those seeking rewards points. Privacy concerns remain, though less intense than Google.
DuckDuckGo: The go-to for privacy-focused users, it doesn’t track searches or store personal data. Results are sourced from over 400 places, including Bing, but not Google, leading to slightly less comprehensive results. It’s clean, ad-light, and offers features like zero-click info. Best for those prioritizing anonymity over personalization.
Brave Search: A newer player with its own independent index, Brave emphasizes privacy and ad-free results. Users praise its lack of bias toward mainstream sources, making it great for unfiltered results. It’s less polished but growing, with 22 million daily queries.
Perplexity AI: An AI-driven platform that summarizes web sources with citations, ideal for research or quick, concise answers. It’s less about raw search volume and more about curated, conversational responses. Users on X highlight its speed and utility, especially with models like DeepSeek.
WolframAlpha: Unique for computational queries, it delivers expert-level data for math, science, or niche topics. It’s not a general search engine but unmatched for specific, data-driven questions.
Specialized Platforms:
YouTube: Best for video content, with over 3 billion monthly searches.
LinkedIn: Increasingly used for professional and business-focused searches.
Waldo: Gated software for high-quality research, pulling from paywalled sources and offering collaboration features.
Sentiment on X: Some users criticize Google for ad-driven or politically influenced results, favoring privacy-focused options like Brave, DuckDuckGo, or Perplexity. Others praise Google’s customized, LLM-enhanced results.
Recommendation:
For general use, Google remains the most reliable for breadth and accuracy, despite privacy trade-offs.
For privacy, DuckDuckGo or Brave Search are top choices.
For research, Perplexity or Waldo shine with curated, source-backed answers.
For computational needs, WolframAlpha is unmatched.
Google is evil!