NEW YORK, Jan 13, 2026, 09:33 ET — Trading underway in the regular session.
Apple shares edged up 0.3% to $260.25 in early Tuesday trading after the company and Google announced a multi-year partnership. The deal will see the next generation of Apple’s “Foundation Models” built on Google’s Gemini, with a more personalized Siri expected later this year. Valued at roughly $3.9 trillion, Apple was gaining slightly faster than the biggest names in the Nasdaq 100. (Blog)
The deal comes as investors seek concrete evidence that Apple’s AI efforts can move beyond demos and actually deliver. Siri, embedded in every iPhone, is front and center—so any hiccups tend to hit sentiment and the stock fast.
This ties into Apple’s ongoing privacy push. The companies confirmed that Apple Intelligence — Apple’s branded AI toolkit — will keep operating both on devices and via Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, the company’s own cloud servers designed to tackle more complex tasks while enhancing privacy. (Blog)
Reuters says the deal will tighten Apple’s connection with Google and raise questions about how it juggles that alongside its existing OpenAI partnership, especially after Apple integrated ChatGPT into its devices in late 2024. Parth Talsania, CEO of Equisights Research, noted that Apple’s move “shifts OpenAI into a more supporting role,” keeping ChatGPT available only for “opt-in queries” — meaning users must actively choose to send requests to it. Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the deal as an “unreasonable concentration of power” for Google. (Reuters)
On Tuesday, Apple expanded its paid software lineup with Apple Creator Studio, a subscription package featuring creative apps. It’s set to debut in the U.S. on Jan. 28, priced at $12.99 monthly or $129 annually. “Apple Creator Studio is a great value,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. (Apple)
Services remain a key focus for traders. Apple reported 2025 as a record year, with the App Store attracting more than 850 million average weekly users worldwide. Since 2008, developers have earned over $550 billion on the platform. Apple also highlighted that Apple Pay prevented over $1 billion in fraud. “The numbers reflect the incredible enthusiasm of our customers,” Cue said. (Apple)
On Wall Street, Wedbush’s Dan Ives described the Google deal as a “major validation moment” for Gemini and a “stepping stone” for Apple, which has seen delays in key AI features. “In our view the Street is underestimating what 2026 is going to bring for Apple,” Ives said, sticking to his $350 target. JPMorgan analysts added that investors will be watching closely to see if Apple names an AI model partner in China next. (Investopedia)
The broader market reacted to fresh inflation figures. U.S. consumer prices climbed 0.3% in December and were 2.7% higher compared to last year. The core rate edged slightly lower, at 2.6%, according to Reuters — a sign that the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates unchanged this month. (Reuters)
But the AI tie-up comes with plenty of uncertainties for equity traders to weigh. Financial details remain under wraps, and Apple must still demonstrate that revamping Siri can scale effectively without alienating users accustomed to the existing setup.
Investors will next focus on the timeline for the Siri upgrade and whether the new AI processing leans more on-device or in the cloud. Attention will then turn to Apple’s conference call on Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. ET. (Apple)
