In a move that has sent shockwaves through the financial markets, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, reached a $4 trillion valuation on Monday, surpassing Apple to become the second-most valuable company on the planet. This milestone highlights the immense value the market places on artificial intelligence leadership, as Google joins Nvidia and Microsoft in the $4 trillion-plus club. The surge in share price is a direct response to the revelation that Apple has chosen Google’s Gemini AI to power the next generation of Siri, a decision that validates Google’s years of heavy investment in machine learning and generative AI technologies.
The partnership represents a significant thawing of relations between the two tech behemoths and a massive strategic win for Google. Apple’s decision to integrate Gemini into the iPhone ecosystem came after what the company described as a “careful evaluation” of all available options. Apple concluded that Google’s technology offered the most capable foundation for upgrading their services, effectively admitting that Google currently holds the crown for consumer-ready AI infrastructure. This integration ensures that Google’s AI will be the engine behind millions of daily interactions on Apple devices.
Driven by this news, Alphabet’s stock has enjoyed a spectacular run in 2025, climbing 65% and outpacing its peers in the “Magnificent Seven.” This rally is fueled by a growing sentiment that Google has won the latest round of the AI arms race. While OpenAI’s highly anticipated GPT-5 model failed to impress the market, Google has successfully launched a series of popular tools, including the Nano Banana image generator. These successes have reassured investors that the company is not just riding a hype cycle but is delivering tangible, high-quality products that consumers and enterprises want.
Simultaneously, Google is capitalizing on the booming demand for enterprise infrastructure. Its cloud unit has posted impressive numbers, with revenue growing 34% in the third quarter and a contract backlog swelling to $155 billion. The unit’s success has been so undeniable that it drew investment from Berkshire Hathaway. A major strategic pivot—renting out Google’s self-developed AI chips to outside customers—has accelerated this growth. These chips, which power Google’s own massive workloads, are now generating significant revenue by powering the AI ambitions of other companies.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere on Wall Street, Google remains under intense regulatory scrutiny. The company is defending itself against two major antitrust suits brought by the US government. While Google recently dodged a bullet when a judge ruled against breaking up the company in the wake of a search monopoly verdict, the legal battles are far from over. A separate trial focused on the online ad market began in September and could result in the forced sale of lucrative assets. Nevertheless, Google’s core advertising business continues to perform well, providing financial stability amidst the legal storms.