Google is trying to draw a clear line around one of the most important questions in technology right now: is AI starting to weaken traditional search?
That question moved from theory to courtroom drama after Apple SVP of Services Eddie Cue testified that search volume in Safari fell for the first time ever in April. Because Google is the default search provider in Safari, the remark raised a direct concern for Google’s search business.
Why Cue’s Testimony Mattered
The comments came during an antitrust trial targeting Google’s search business. The case is moving toward its final stretch, and the outcome could reshape Google and the web itself.
At the center of the dispute is Google’s arrangement with Apple. The deal gives Google default search placement, and it is described as a major source of revenue for Apple. A similar arrangement exists for Firefox.
The DOJ argues that these default placement deals are anticompetitive. Its proposed remedies include banning Google from making such deals.
That context made Cue’s testimony especially sensitive. During questioning by DOJ attorney Adam Severt, Cue expressed concern about losing the Google search deal. Then he noted that search volume in Safari fell for the first time ever in April.
For Google, the implication was hard to ignore. If Safari search volume is falling while Google remains the default provider, that could suggest fewer Google searches on Apple devices. Since Apple devices are popular, even a signal of weakness there can carry weight.
Google’s Response Was Direct
Google responded late in the day with a statement disputing the idea that its search business is already losing ground. The move was unusual, and it showed how quickly the company wanted to counter the reading of Cue’s testimony.
We continue to see overall query growth in Search. That includes an increase in total queries coming from Apple’s devices and platforms. More generally, as we enhance Search with new features, people are seeing that Google Search is more useful for more of their queries—and they’re accessing it for new things and in new ways, whether from browsers or the Google app, using their voice or Google Lens. We’re excited to continue this innovation and look forward to sharing more at Google I/O.
The key point in Google’s response is that it rejected a narrow interpretation of Safari activity as evidence of broader decline. Google said it continues to see overall query growth in Search, including more total queries from Apple’s devices and platforms.
Google also framed Search as something that is changing, not simply a browser box that receives typed queries. It pointed to access through browsers, the Google app, voice, and Google Lens. The company’s argument is that search activity is spreading across more entry points as new features are added.
AI Is Now Part of the Search Fight
Cue’s testimony suggested that more people may be shifting toward AI-based ways of finding information. The source named ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others as examples of this changing behavior.
That possibility matters because the case is not only about contracts and default placement. It is also about whether user behavior is beginning to move faster than legal remedies. If people increasingly choose AI tools for information, the competitive picture around search could change regardless of the court’s decision.
Apple devices recently integrated a heap of AI features. In that context, a fall in Safari search volume would be read as more than an isolated product metric. It would be a possible sign that AI search habits are starting to affect one of Google’s most valuable channels.
The market reaction showed how seriously investors took the signal. Google’s stock price cratered 8 percent late on Wednesday. The source describes that dramatic reaction as probably what prompted Google’s terse statement.
The Stakes Go Beyond One Metric
The dispute over Safari search volume is narrow, but the stakes around it are broad. Google is defending both a business model and a story about search demand. Apple is weighing the importance of a major revenue source. The DOJ is pressing an antitrust argument around default search deals.
At the same time, AI tools are creating a second pressure point. The source notes that Google created the transformer architecture in 2017, while OpenAI later became a cultural phenomenon. Google has seen usage of its Gemini AI increase, but the company still faces the larger question of whether AI changes the center of gravity in search.
There are several issues now moving together:
- Google says overall query growth in Search continues.
- Cue said Safari search volume fell for the first time ever in April.
- The DOJ wants to ban Google from default search placement deals.
- AI-based tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity are becoming part of how people find information.
- The market reacted sharply, with Google’s stock price falling 8 percent late on Wednesday.
None of those facts alone settles the future of search. Together, they explain why Google responded quickly. The company is fighting a legal challenge, defending a major distribution channel, and trying to show that Search remains useful as AI changes expectations.
The court’s decision on antitrust remedies may determine what Google can pay for and where it can appear by default. But the source points to a different possibility as well: market forces may test Google’s search power before the government does. If the future of search is AI, Google’s challenge is not only to win in court. It must also keep users searching through Google as the ways people ask for information continue to expand.