APPLE is preparing to roll out an AI?powered web search tool next year as part of a broader Siri overhaul, aiming to compete with services such as OpenAI and Perplexity AI. Called “World Knowledge Answers,” the system will be integrated into Siri first and may later expand to Safari and Spotlight, according to people familiar with the plans. Apple is targeting a spring release and the feature could arrive with iOS 26.4, potentially as early as March. The tool will use large language models (LLMs) to help users search the web and summarize information — functionality similar to ChatGPT or Google Search’s AI Overviews. Apple is testing Google’s Gemini model for parts of the new Siri, while also evaluating Anthropic’s Claude and its own internal models for different roles. The company says it intends to keep searches of user data on-device to preserve privacy. The move to incorporate third?party AI marks a strategic shift for Apple, which has traditionally built flagship features like Siri using in?house technology. Reports say Anthropic’s Claude performed well in internal tests, but that negotiations stalled over cost, with Anthropic reportedly seeking more than US$1.5 billion a year. Google’s commercial terms were said to be more favorable, prompting Apple to lean toward Gemini for some functions. (SD-Agencies) | 