Apple may have been late to the artificial intelligence (AI) party, but it looks like the tech giant is now working hard to catch up. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is quietly developing its own ChatGPT-style chatbot called “Answer Engine.”
This new AI tool is designed to answer questions using information pulled from across the web. While it’s still in development, Apple is reportedly considering using it to boost existing products like Siri and Safari, or even launching it as a standalone app. It’s a clear sign that Apple is finally getting serious about competing with AI leaders like OpenAI, Google, and Meta.
The project is being handled by a newly formed internal team known as Answers, Knowledge, and Information, and Apple is already looking to expand this group. Recent job listings show the company is hiring talent with expertise in search engines and AI algorithms.
Although Apple did roll out its Apple Intelligence platform recently, the launch didn’t quite wow the tech world. Some of the features, like ChatGPT integration into Siri, are still delayed, and others, such as basic text summaries, haven’t made much impact. Even Apple has admitted the rollout has had its rough patches.
Power On: Apple has a new “Answers” team working on a stripped-down alternative to ChatGPT for world knowledge as it looks to catch up in AI. https://t.co/ixQU1jOvtq— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) August 3, 2025
To make matters more challenging, Apple has lost some of its top AI talent. Meta reportedly managed to recruit at least four AI researchers from Apple, including Ruoming Pang, who led the company’s AI division. One report claims Meta offered Pang a compensation package worth over $200 million, a major setback for Apple as it tries to gain ground in the AI race.
In response, Apple CEO Tim Cook has hinted that the company is open to buying or partnering with other AI firms to fast-track progress. One name that keeps coming up is Perplexity AI, a rising AI search startup founded by Indian-origin computer scientist Arvind Srinivas. Some investors believe acquiring Perplexity could give Siri a much-needed AI upgrade.
Despite its slow start in AI, Apple is still a major player in tech. The company recently posted $94 billion in quarterly revenue, its best performance since 2021, thanks to strong iPhone sales and services growth. Still, analysts remain cautious, pointing to Apple’s lagging AI strategy as a long-term concern.
With the “Answer Engine” project now in the works, Apple is finally stepping into the AI spotlight. Whether it can catch up, and stay competitive, remains the big question.
Great Job Omair Pall & the Team @ Mashable India tech Source link for sharing this story.
