Google Paid Apple $18 Billion to Stay Default iPhone Search Engine Amid Competition Concerns

Google has long worried that Apple would expand its search capabilities and worked on ways to prevent that.

In 2021, Google paid Apple $18 billion to remain the default iPhone search engine as Apple improved its Spotlight tool.

Google looked to undercut Spotlight with its own iPhone search tool and get more users on Chrome instead of Safari.

Google studied using a new EU law intended for small companies to force Apple to open its ecosystem.

Google saw the EU law as a way to reduce reliance on Apple's Safari browser by getting more iPhone users in Europe to choose Chrome.