Alphabet hits near three-month high on new AI updates
FILE PHOTO: Figurines with computers and smartphones are seen in front of Alphabet logo in this illustration taken, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
(Reuters) -Alphabet shares jumped 4% on Thursday, rising for a second straight day, as investors cheered the Google parent's artificial intelligence updates including the rolling out of "AI Mode" to all its U.S. users.
A $249.99-a-month subscription for its AI power users, teased at its annual developer conference, also allayed concerns over funding the huge costs of the company's AI development.
After the conference, "we are incrementally confident that Google can deliver continued search growth while ramping monetization suggesting improving execution," Citi analyst Ronald Josey wrote in a note.
CEO Sundar Pichai said the rise of generative AI was not at the full expense of online search amid concerns about a behavioral change where users were turning to AI chatbots from search engines.
In a major update, the company signaled that customers across the U.S. now can switch Google Search into "AI Mode."
A Google search team executive also said using AI to answer tougher questions could open up new ways to show more relevant and useful ads. Ads make up the majority of Google's revenue.
"We believe monetization of AI Mode is likely to 'soon' follow the U.S. launch," Josey said.
Class C shares of Alphabet were up 4% at 175.27, trading at levels last seen three months ago. The stock is down about 7% so far this year.
(Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
AI creator blending Cambodian heritage with technology
PHNOM PENH: In an age of rapid technological advancements, one Cambodian youth is taking bold steps to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence (AI) and the Kingdom's rich culture. Rath Chan Ponleu, a digital content creator, has emerged as a driving force behind the integration of AI into Cambodian culture and education. His videos created by AI are a reflection of his passion for preserving the rich customs, traditions and language of Cambodia, while exploring the potential of modern technology. Ponleu, who posts to the 'Ty Ronex' Facebook page, shares short clips of his content, as well as tips and tricks for others to try. In one of his captivating AI-generated videos, the protagonist, a Cambodian woman, navigates a mysterious house. With traditional Cambodian beauty and charm, she confronts a series of strange occurrences. A conversation with a man she meets inside the house only adds to the suspense, as she seeks to uncover the truth behind the house's enigmatic nature. The core message of the video, though set against a backdrop of mystery, highlights the importance of Cambodian identity. The young creator's purpose is clear — to train AI to understand and represent Cambodian culture, language and traditions. By using AI technology, he hopes to bring Cambodian heritage to a global audience, showcasing the beauty of the Khmer language and the stories that have shaped Cambodia for centuries. In his efforts to train AI systems to understand and promote the Kingdom's unique culture, Ponleu is not only exploring the future of AI but also shaping how the next generation of Cambodians can engage with this transformative technology. His journey into AI began with a deep curiosity about how this powerful tool could be harnessed to advance understanding and preserve cultural identity. 'I want to know how good AI is and what it will be like in the future. The more data we train it with, the better it gets. Right now, my most popular video features Google's Veo 3 technology," he explained. Through his creative videos and educational content, Ponleu is helping others understand how to utilise AI technology in practical and impactful ways. AI's power, according to Ponleu, lies in the careful crafting of prompts. "AI requires a strong understanding of English sentence structure and the key elements of prompts — subject, object and key words,' he said. 'The better we understand how to design prompts, the more professional the results will be. For example, if we use basic words, the AI's output will be simpler. But when we structure the prompts carefully, like including specific lighting details, the results can be truly professional,' he added. One of the biggest challenges Ponleu faces is overcoming AI's difficulty in recognising Cambodian culture and its distinct characteristics. He noted that AI systems often confuse Cambodian cultural elements with those of neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam or Laos. 'The AI still has a hard time distinguishing the faces, clothing, and traditions of Cambodia from other South-East Asian nations,' he told The Post. His advice to fellow Cambodians is to include specific details in AI prompts, such as references to Cambodian culture, clothing and ethnicity, to help the system improve its recognition of the unique Cambodian identity. Ponleu's insight into AI's cultural understanding is particularly crucial when it comes to creating accurate representations of Cambodia's ancient and modern heritage. 'For instance, when I asked AI to generate a video of 'ancient women in traditional clothing near Angkor Wat', the results were not what I had hoped for,' he said. "The AI often confused the traditional Cambodian style with that of neighbouring countries." However, with further adjustments — adding details like skin tone and specific clothing styles from the appropriate era — Ponleu has been able to improve the results. The challenge of getting AI to recognise facial features and profiles also persists, but through techniques like locking a 'seed' to maintain consistency, he is able to manipulate the video content for more accurate depictions. Ponleu remains optimistic about AI's potential to revolutionise the way Cambodians create and consume content. AI's versatility can simplify many tasks, he explained, especially for those who are camera-shy or lack professional skills. 'For example, employees who are afraid of being on camera can still create videos by using AI to generate actions based on their facial features and body shape,' he noted. This technology also has the potential to save time and costs by eliminating the need for travel and on-location shooting. However, Ponleu acknowledges that AI's understanding of current events and locations is still limited. 'AI often uses outdated images, like older pictures of Angkor Wat, instead of capturing the latest scenes,' he said. He believes that the full potential of AI will be realised when companies collaborate with the Cambodian government and local organisations to ensure the technology reflects real-time developments and accurately captures Cambodia's rich heritage. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar slams Muslim nations' silence over Israeli attacks on Iran
LUMUT: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today condemned the silence of the international community, particularly Muslim-majority nations, over the recent Israeli attacks on Iran. "A few days ago, Iran was attacked by Israel. They casually targeted and killed scientists and military officials. "What kind of country behaves in such a barbaric, treacherous, and insane manner as Israel? "There are over a billion Muslims, and many Islamic countries are wealthy, yet very few speak up to defend Iran," he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Madani Rakyat Programme at Lumut Waterfront here today. Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. Anwar said that Malaysia, as a sovereign and independent nation, must have the courage to stand up for justice, not only within its borders, but also in solidarity with oppressed nations around the world. "That is why I told my colleagues in the Cabinet, Malaysia must build its own capacity. "We are a sovereign country, and we must defend the rights of our friends, including Iran, which has long been oppressed. "We support Iran's right to respond and to defend its national dignity," he said. Highlighting Iran's resilience under prolonged economic sanctions, Anwar praised the country's commitment to education and technological advancement, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), despite being shut out by major global tech companies. "While companies like Google and Microsoft are present in our country, they are not allowed into Iran. " Yet Iran still manages to educate its youth, develop its AI sector, and sustain its economy under immense pressure," he said. He also pointed out the hypocrisy of global powers and European nations who remain silent when Israel strikes, but react strongly when Iran retaliates. "When Israel attacks, you remain silent. But when Iran responds, suddenly there's outrage. That's not our position," he said. Anwar affirmed that the Madani government will continue to uphold its principles of justice and solidarity. "Alhamdulillah, the leadership of this Madani government holds firmly to the principle of defending justice and the rights of all nations," he concluded. It was reported that Iran struck Israel early Saturday with barrages of missiles after a massive onslaught targeted the Islamic republic's nuclear and military facilities, and killed several top generals. Air raid sirens and explosions rang out across Israel overnight, with its military calling on residents to take refuge in bomb shelters Saturday morning.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
PSG inspired by Los Angeles as it sets out to build new stadium
PARIS St Germain is drawing inspiration from the success of new state-of-the-art venues in Los Angeles as the Champions League title winners begin the process of building a new stadium for the team, CEO Victoriano Melero said. PSG has outgrown the 48,000-capacity Parc des Princes, and team officials will spend a year studying potential sites in Massy and Poissy with an eye toward offering a variety of entertainment options, Melero said. 'The next challenge is a new stadium,' Melero told Reuters in Los Angeles ahead of PSG's Club World Cup match on Sunday in Pasadena. 'For one year we're going to go into an analysis and make a choice for our future, and we're inspired by what is going on in the U.S. with sports facilities,' he said. 'One example here is SoFi Stadium. It's incredible and much more than a sports facility - it really is part of entertainment and shows. So that is what we really want to push to diversify our revenue.' SoFi Stadium, a technological marvel that opened in 2020, is home to the NFL's Rams and Chargers and has hosted concerts by artists like Taylor Swift and Beyonce. It will play a key role in next summer's World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The $5 billion stadium is located in Hollywood Park, a growing commercial and residential area. The 70,000-capacity indoor-outdoor stadium sits next to Intuit Dome, the high-tech NBA arena that opened last year. PSG is looking at Massy, south of Paris, and Poissy, west of the French capital, as potential sites for a new stadium. The team will play Parc des Princes for the foreseeable future while the new stadium is built. U.S. fans and investors have played a vital role in the stunning success of the club both on and off the field, said Adrien Frier, the French consul-general in Los Angeles. 'Paris St Germain is what you would call in the tech sector a unicorn, and it's a unicorn that has some American blood in it,' he said at a reception honoring the team in Beverly Hills, where the Champions League trophy was on display. PSG has an estimated five million fans in the U.S. and has benefited from its high-profile partnership with Nike's iconic Air Jordan brand. U.S.-based Arctos Partners holds 12.5% of the shares of the team, with majority owner Qatar Sports Investments owning the remaining 87.5% for a club that is valued at $4.4 billion. Melero said the team's ambitions are only growing. 'We wrote the story of the club with that cup,' he said, gesturing toward the gleaming trophy. 'And right now the next move is to write the story of football with this very young team.'
