Google Reports Search Query Growth Including Apple Devices

Despite reports of declining Google search activity on Apple's Safari browser amid rising AI usage, Alphabet (Google's parent company) asserts it continues to see overall growth in search query volumes, including from Apple devices and platforms. Google attributes this growth to enhanced search features that make the service more useful across diverse query types and access methods such as browsers, the Google app, voice commands, and Google Lens. Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue confirmed a decline in Google search on Apple devices, attributing it to a fundamental shift in search driven by AI, with plans to integrate AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT into Safari as alternative search options. While Apple relies on a lucrative deal with Google to keep its search engine as the default, it is exploring AI-driven innovations that could disrupt this arrangement amid ongoing antitrust scrutiny. Google's shares experienced a significant drop following the news but rebounded slightly, reflecting market uncertainty around these shifts. Both companies appear poised to continue innovating in search technology, with Google planning to unveil more at its upcoming Google I/O event.