The topic of Apple and search engines has been on the table for a while. For years, there have been speculations about Cupertino launching a new way for us to conduct searches, and now we have more information about it. As reported by Mark Gurman in his weekly newsletter, Apple has secretly developed a next-generation search engine called “Pegasus.” However, its implementation might not be what many people expect, at least not initially.
Several pieces for a future search engine
With the decision to include Google as the default search engine on their products, something for which Edy Cue himself has explained the reasons, it might seem that Apple has no grounds to venture into the search engine territory. However, the situation appears to be quite different, as we now know that Apple has a next-generation search engine.
According to Gurman, Apple has been quietly working on its own search technology. Under the supervision of John Giannandrea, a former Google executive and the current head of AI at Apple, a “large search team” has been formed to develop the search engine codenamed Pegasus.
While Pegasus isn’t intended to directly compete with Google Search in the global web search arena, Apple has immediate plans for this engine. Soon, Pegasus will become the fundamental backbone of search in the App Store, a significant source of revenue for Apple. The move might seem minor compared to indexing the entire web, but it’s a significant step, demonstrating the importance Apple is placing on the world of search.
When combined with the fact that Apple is already indexing the internet to power search results for Siri and Spotlight, we might be witnessing the birth of Apple’s search engine. The one that has been referred to for years under the original name iSearch could soon become a reality.
But why would Apple want to venture into online searches? Having its own search engine would allow Apple to further enhance integration and the user experience within its ecosystem, taking a step closer to its vision of a fully integrated technological ecosystem.
If we are already using Apple’s search system in apps like Photos, Spotlight, and soon in the App Store, there might come a time when we use it to browse the internet as well. With the existence of Pegasus, it’s evident that the company has the necessary pieces to, in the future, contemplate a game-changing move. While Pegasus doesn’t seem ready to arrive on the iPhone as an immediate direct rival to Google, its development marks a significant milestone in Apple’s search ambitions.
