December 25, 2024 – In a statement submitted to the Federal Court in Washington D.C., Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President, elaborated on the reasons why Apple has no intention to develop a search engine similar to Google’s. Cue highlighted that developing a search engine would involve significant costs, pose immense risks, and contradict Apple’s longstanding commitment to privacy.
Cue outlined several key reasons for Apple’s decision to steer clear of the search engine business:
Substantial Costs and Long-Term Investment: Developing a search engine, Cue explained, would demand an investment of “billions of dollars” and require “years” of dedication. This would necessitate diverting funds and personnel from other key growth areas within Apple.
Rapid Evolution Driven by AI: Given the fast-paced advancements in artificial intelligence, the search industry is undergoing a “rapid evolution,” making it an “economically risky” venture for Apple to enter at this time.
Deviation from Core Business and Privacy Promises: Establishing a “viable” search engine operation would oblige Apple to engage in “targeted advertising,” Cue noted, which not only strays from Apple’s “core business” but also conflicts with its “long-held privacy commitments.”
Insufficient Expertise and Operational Framework: Apple currently lacks the “specialized talent” and “operational infrastructure” essential for building and maintaining a thriving search engine enterprise.
Earlier this year, as part of an antitrust lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Google, the court ruled that an agreement between Google and Apple, making Google the default search engine on Apple’s Safari browser, was unlawful. In his declaration, Cue petitioned the court to permit Apple to defend this agreement through witness testimony.
Cue emphasized, “Only Apple can articulate which future collaborations will optimally serve its users. Apple remains dedicated to creating the best user experiences and exploring potential partnerships and arrangements with other companies to achieve this goal.”
Furthermore, Cue disclosed that under this agreement, Google paid Apple approximately $20 billion in 2022 alone. He cautioned that if the agreement were to be terminated, it “would severely limit Apple’s ability to continue providing products and services that best meet user needs.”
