Ever since the explosive arrival of ChatGPT in 2022, a looming question has haunted investors: What will become of Google if AI starts to take over the search landscape?

Now, it appears we're witnessing that shift in action! Eddy Cue, a top executive at Apple, revealed that for the first time ever, searches on Apple's Safari browser took a dive in April. Cue attributed this dip to the rising trend of users opting for AI tools instead of Google's traditional search engine.

Cue's eye-opening statements came during a federal antitrust trial against Alphabet, Google's parent company, where he highlighted that Apple rakes in over $20 billion annually by making Google the default search engine on its devices.

Looking to the future, Cue hinted at the possibility of integrating AI search alternatives like OpenAI and Anthropic into Safari. "We will add them to the list—though they might not be the default options just yet," he said, emphasizing that these AI tools need further development.

This revelation sheds light on why investors are flocking to AI companies, hoping they'll slice into Google's enormous market share, a key factor in the tech giant's staggering $2 trillion valuation.

In response to this competitive pressure, Google has been reinventing itself as an AI company, striving to upgrade its search capabilities with the Gemini AI engine. However, their initial missteps sparked a wave of criticism, most notably the infamous "glue pizza" debacle.

Despite the backlash, Google remains steadfast, with CEO Sundar Pichai proclaiming during last month's earnings call that the integration of AI has actually boosted search volume, noting that usage of their AI Overviews feature continues to rise.

Yet, Cue's testimony raises doubts about whether these efforts are enough to fend off competitors. As a clear sign of market turmoil, Google's stock has taken a notable hit, plummeting over 9% in afternoon trading.

As the battle for search supremacy intensifies, the future remains uncertain—will AI truly dethrone the search giant? Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding saga!