Apple Says Google Searches Down & Google Says Google Searches Up

Yesterday, Apple’s Eddy Cue mentioned searches on Google by way of Safari have been down final month for the primary time in 22 years. Then later, Google issued a assertion saying there was an “improve in complete queries coming from Apple’s units and platforms.”

Appears like Apple and Google are at odds with this information, for some motive. I discover it considerably humorous and on the identical time, considerably regarding, to see this. However when you take a look at the wording, Google utilization on Safari might be down whereas on the identical time, it may be up on Apple units since individuals might be utilizing the Google app or Chrome or different apps to go looking Google, exterior of Safari.

Bloomberg reported:

Past that upheaval, AI is already making positive factors with shoppers. Cue famous that searches on Safari dipped for the primary time final month, which he attributed to individuals utilizing AI. Cue mentioned he believes that AI search suppliers, together with OpenAI, Perplexity AI Inc. and Anthropic PBC, will finally substitute customary engines like google like Alphabet’s Google. He mentioned he believes Apple will convey these choices to Safari sooner or later.

Google’s inventory worth dropped 8% after that information, so Google issued this assertion later that night time:

We proceed to see total question development in Search. That features a rise in complete queries coming from Apple’s units and platforms. Extra usually, as we improve Search with new options, individuals are seeing that Google Search is extra helpful for extra of their queries — they usually’re accessing it for brand new issues and in new methods, whether or not from browsers or the Google app, utilizing their voice or Google Lens. We’re excited to proceed this innovation and stay up for sharing extra at Google I/O.

So which is it? Are individuals utilizing Google much less on Apple units or extra? Who’s mendacity right here? Or is it simply Safari particularly?

I think that’s the factor – Apple spoke particularly about Google searches on Safari being down. However Google is saying throughout Apple units, Google searches are up. So what Google is saying is that total, individuals are looking out Google extra on Apple units, regardless of Google searches on Safari being down. So possibly individuals are utilizing the Google App, or downloaded Chrome or one other browser and are utilizing Google Search that approach….

So each statements might be true; Google searches on Safari might be down and reducing, whereas Google searches on Apple units might be up and growing.

After all Google’s assertion didn’t particularly point out Safari. So there may be that. 🧑‍💻

— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) Could 8, 2025

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