Apple fans may have to wait a little longer for the tech titan’s own search engine since the team working on it has allegedly departed Apple to join Google. According to AppleInsider, the Laserlike startup’s founders, Anand Shukla, Srinivasan Venkatachary, and Steven Baker, have departed Apple’s project to join Google.
For those who are unaware, Apple purchased Laserlike around four years ago in order to improve its online search technology. A team of former Google search engineers founded the firm to suggest websites to consumers based on their interests and browsing history.
Apple purchased Laserlike in 2018, but the agreement was not made public until the following year. As part of the acquisition, Apple acquired the company’s three founders, who later oversaw a 200-person search team at Apple. According to media reports, Srinivasan Venkatachary has returned to Google as the company’s new vice president of engineering.
James Manyika, senior vice president of technology and society, reports to Venkatachary. Baker and Shukla have joined Manyika’s squad.
According to the story, it’s unclear if all three departed Apple at the same time or whether Venkatachary is the most recent departure. Following the introduction of iOS 14 in 2020, rumours of Apple establishing its own search engine gained momentum.
According to the allegation, Siri recommendations were then routed via Apple’s Spotlight search function rather than being sent on to Google.
