Apple is developing a generative AI tool similar to ChatGPT, led by a newly formed team known as Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI), according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The internal project is being referred to as an “answer engine,” with a goal of offering advanced AI-driven search capabilities similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
At present, Apple does not have a standalone generative AI chatbot. Users can integrate Siri and Apple Intelligence with ChatGPT for web-based answers, but the company lacks its own native app. The AKI team, headed by Robby Walker and reporting directly to AI chief John Giannandrea, is working to close that gap and also improve Siri, Spotlight, and Safari search performance.
Initially, Apple indicated it had no plans to launch its own chatbot, citing low consumer interest. However, the success of other AI models and delays in launching promised Siri updates have prompted internal shifts and increased urgency. Gurman notes that recent lawsuits and reorganizations have added further pressure.
CEO Tim Cook is now fully backing Apple’s AI ambitions. In previous internal meetings, he reportedly told staff that AI represents a shift comparable to the internet or the rise of smartphones. He believes Apple, even as a late entrant, can succeed by focusing on quality and execution. “Apple must do this. Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab,” he said.
Currently, Apple’s main AI product is Apple Intelligence, which can summarize text, assist with writing, edit photos, and create Genmojis. Additional features, like translation, are expected in the near future.
