New York, Jan 13, 2026, 10:32 ET — Regular session
- Alphabet’s Class C shares climbed roughly 1.8% to $338.60, beating the weaker broader market.
- Apple is set to integrate Google’s Gemini models into a redesigned Siri, part of a multi-year AI partnership.
- Investors are focused on whether Alphabet can convert its latest AI features into ad and commerce revenue before its Feb. 4 earnings report.
Alphabet’s Class C shares (GOOG) climbed roughly 1.8% to $338.60 in early trading Tuesday, extending gains from Monday’s $332.73 close.
The stock boils down to one key question: can Alphabet hold onto its dominance in search and ads as chatbots shift how users seek information? And crucially, can it profit from this new AI wave without sending costs skyrocketing?
The debate hits as fourth-quarter earnings season kicks off, a time when investors usually demand more clarity on margins and spending plans. Analysts expect profit growth, mainly driven by tech, supported by a steady U.S. economy and rate cuts. (Reuters)
Apple plans to integrate Google’s Gemini models into a redesigned Siri set to launch later this year, according to Reuters on Monday. The multi-year pact marks a fresh opportunity for Google to tap into Apple’s network of over two billion active devices. Google said Apple chose its AI after a “careful evaluation,” though the financial details remain under wraps. Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the deal as an “unreasonable concentration of power,” while Parth Talsania, CEO of Equisights Research, suggested it relegates OpenAI to “a more supporting role.” (Reuters)
Alphabet’s market value briefly hit $4 trillion on Monday, reflecting renewed investor confidence in its AI approach after initial skepticism. Phil Blancato, CEO of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, told Reuters, “Of the Magnificent 7 stocks, it’s the one name that has surprised us all.” (Reuters)
On Sunday, Google unveiled new tools focused on “agentic commerce,” an AI that handles shopping tasks for users. Among these is the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard developed alongside partners like Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart. According to a blog post, the protocol will “soon” enable checkout for qualifying U.S. retailers within AI Mode in Search and the Gemini app, starting with Google Pay and later adding PayPal. (Blog)
Investors care about the shopping and checkout push because it signals a clearer route to monetisation. Alphabet wants to keep product discovery, decision-making, and purchases within its own platforms instead of letting that traffic slip away to stand-alone assistants.
Tuesday’s action stood out amid a softer market: the SPDR S&P 500 ETF dropped roughly 0.3%, and the Invesco QQQ slid about 0.3% in early trading. Apple slipped slightly, with Microsoft and Nvidia also retreating on the day.
But some loose ends remain. The financial details of the Apple deal haven’t been made clear, and a closer tie between two industry giants is bound to raise eyebrows among regulators and privacy advocates. Even Apple’s AI strategy has rapidly turned into a political flashpoint.
The immediate market response will hinge on execution: how quickly Apple integrates Gemini into Siri, how widely Google deploys AI Mode in commerce, and if advertisers and retailers commit actual budgets instead of just pilots and promises.
Alphabet said it will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 4, followed by a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET. This report marks the next key catalyst for GOOG, with investors eager for updates on ad demand, cloud growth, and the expected size of the upcoming AI spending budget. (Abc)
