Google’s $20 Billion Deal Is on the Rocks—And AI is the Wrecking Ball
TL;DR
- Google pays Apple ~$20B a year to be your iPhone’s default search engine.
- The DOJ says that’s a monopoly and wants it stopped.
- AI search (like ChadGPT’s Pro Search) is breaking that monopoly—by being better.
- You don’t need to wait for Apple or Google to figure it out. You can try AI search right now.
➤ Give ChadGPT Pro Search a spin
Hey, Chad here,
If you’ve ever wondered how Google managed to stay your iPhone’s default search engine, the answer is simple: cash. Lots of it. Somewhere around $18 to $20 billion a year, according to court documents. That’s how much Google has been paying Apple to make sure Safari quietly funnels your searches back to the Googleplex.
But that cozy little deal? It’s now facing a full-on AI-fueled existential crisis.
The U.S. Department of Justice has called the Apple-Google search pact “perhaps the most effective monopoly in history,” and they’re not just being dramatic for fun. The feds argue that by paying Apple to stay default, Google is squashing competition and locking in its dominance. Apple, of course, has been quietly cashing those checks—while also exploring its own AI ambitions.
Why does this matter? Because for the first time in two decades, how we search the web is actually up for grabs. And if you’re still typing keywords into Google and hoping for the best, you’re officially falling behind.
Enter: The Rise of AI Search
AI is completely rewriting the rules of search. Instead of serving up 10 blue links and a pile of SEO-optimized fluff, AI search engines now summarize, synthesize, and straight-up answer your questions.
This is exactly where ChadGPT’s new Pro Search comes in. We’ve built an AI-powered search experience that doesn’t just index the web—it understands it. No ads, no affiliate-laced blog spam, no weird Reddit rabbit holes. Just clear answers to real questions, instantly.
Want to see it in action? ➤ Try it in ChadGPT Pro Search
Why the Apple-Google Deal Is Starting to Crumble
Back to the $20 billion elephant in the courtroom.
The DOJ’s antitrust case claims Google’s payments to Apple have essentially “bought default status,” which translates to billions of iPhone users never bothering to change their search settings. That’s not user preference—that’s engineered monopoly.
Apple has tried to play both sides. On one hand, it’s reportedly working on its own AI search tech (including partnerships with companies like OpenAI). On the other hand, it’s been content to cash Google’s checks for years.
But AI is forcing everyone’s hand. Google’s dominance isn’t a given anymore. The rise of conversational AI, contextual answers, and multimodal tools means users are starting to expect more than a list of links—they want solutions.
Search, Unbundled
This moment isn’t just about lawsuits or corporate deals—it’s about breaking search out of its two-decade slump.
Think about how much time you’ve wasted clicking through clickbait, dodging ads, or sifting through SEO-stuffed nonsense. Now imagine skipping all that. That’s what ChadGPT Pro Search delivers: one prompt, one answer, no garbage.
And yes, it works right inside your existing ChadGPT chat—so you don’t have to open a new tab, change your homepage, or switch apps. It’s AI search the way it should be: fast, smart, and actually useful.
The Future Isn’t Google. It Might Not Be Apple Either.
With antitrust heat rising and user expectations shifting, we’re watching a historic moment unfold. The idea that Google will always be the go-to for search? That’s over.
Whether Apple builds its own AI search tool or just renegotiates the deal, one thing is clear: the future of search is no longer one-size-fits-all. It’s intelligent, adaptable, and—if we have anything to say about it—finally worth using.
