AI leak: Apple allegedly wants to have an answer to everything by 2026

How good will the new AI-powered Siri be? Apple has yet to answer this question, despite announcements dating back to 2024. However, in spring 2026, users will be compensated for the long wait with not just one answer, but many.

World Knowledge Answers – is the generic term under which Apple is allegedly developing an AI-supported web search function, reports Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, citing unnamed sources within the company. This world knowledge is to be fed from the web and Apple's own AI functions, but could also be partly the result of a new collaboration with Google. In addition to Siri, integration into the Safari web browser and the Spotlight system search function is also being discussed. Users can make queries and these are then summarized by the AI. The whole thing works with text, photos, videos and local information, according to reports.

Code name "Linwood"

The "Answer Engine" was reportedly not originally planned to this extent. Apple has expanded its plans. The entire Siri overhaul is running internally under the codenames "Linwood" and "LLM Siri".

Google is said to have moved into Apple's focus due to better conditions. For a long time, there was speculation that the iPhone manufacturer could seek to join forces with Anthropic, whose Large Language Model Claude was recently included in a beta of Apple's Xcode 26 development environment. But Anthropic has lost its status as a favorite because it wanted too much money from Apple at 1.5 billion US dollars a year, Gurman claims to have learned.

Perplexity purchase off the table

Another interesting aspect of the new rumors is that they now portray Apple as a future competitor to OpenAI and Perplexity. Apple maintains a close cooperation with OpenAI: if Siri gets stuck, it can pass on requests to ChatGPT. And OpenAI will also help Apple's image AI Image Playground with the new operating system versions in the fall. Regarding Perplexity, there was even talk of a possible takeover by Apple for some time. Google would, of course, have to accept that the cooperation would mean that Apple would also have to compete with its AI Overviews.

Apple's efforts to improve its position in the AI business are likely to have a signal effect both internally and externally. Externally, it is the criticism from users and reviewers that Apple is lagging in the AI trend that is causing unrest and, in the worst case, could also unsettle investors. Internally, reports of departures from Apple's AI department are piling up. The salaries paid are undoubtedly playing a major role here. Nevertheless, competitors are currently promising more prestige and work on projects that are much more advanced than Apple's.

(mki)