Apple Sets Google as Default Search Engine for Siri, Spotlight
Siri, iOS Search and macOS Spotlight will now get their online search results from Google after a new update from Apple rolled in. The company is switching over to Google from Microsoft's Bing, which previously powered the web search of the digital assistant.
Apple is citing a need for search result consistency as the reason for the switch, according to Tech Crunch. Like most major browsers like Chrome and Firefox, the default Safari browser on the macOS already uses Google search as its default provider.
"Switching to Google as the web search provider for Siri, Search within iOS and Spotlight on Mac will allow these services to have a consistent web search experience with the default in Safari," the Cupertino-based company explained through a statement.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"We have strong relationships with Google and Microsoft and remain committed to delivering the best user experience possible," the note continued. Apple will continue to use Microsoft's Bing for its image results, which has been a strong feature of the search engine.
Video results are sourced from YouTube, however, giving Google another chance at serving their content to iOS users.
Microsoft has responded with its own statement, in turn. "We value our relationship with Apple and look forward to continuing to partner with them in many ways, including on Bing Image Search in Siri, to provide the best experience possible for our customers," a representative from the company said.
This arrangement is unlikely to change anytime soon, as Google is making sure that they are the default on the iOS by paying Apple about $3 billion this year, according to CNBC. This has been a deal that has hugely benefited both companies, with the licensing fees making up a sizable five percent of Apple's total profits this year.
This update comes just in time with the launch of macOS High Sierra, which came out on Monday, Sept. 25. Aside from retaining Google as the default search provider, the Safari browser that comes with the update also quashes auto-playing videos, a feature much welcomed by users according to The Verge.
