Alphabet Stock (GOOGL) Climbs Despite Samsung's Galactical Search for New AI Agents
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
AI Diversity
According to a report in Bloomberg, South Korea's Samsung is seeking other options outside of Alphabet's AI Assistant Gemini for its Galaxy devices.
In an interview with Choi Won-Joon, president and chief operating officer of Samsung's mobile division, it was reported that it is already in talks with Microsoft (MSFT) -backed OpenAI and Perplexity AI, which is backed by chip giant Nvidia (NVDA), SoftBank (SFTBY), and Amazon (AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos.
The main driver, according to Choi, is to give its customers more choice on its upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 smartphone line next year.
Samsung's current line-up features Alphabet's AI model, like much of the rest of the field of Android devices.
'We are talking to multiple vendors. As long as these AI agents are competitive and can provide the best user experiences, we are open to any AI agent out there,' Choi said.
As can be seen below, innovation, including those of rivals, is one of the key risks to Alphabet stock and its investors.
Allay Doubts
It is also understood that Samsung is nearing a deal to invest in Perplexity and integrate its app and assistant.
Like rival Apple (AAPL), the Galaxy phone maker is looking to augment its own efforts at artificial intelligence with the best available from outside providers.
Beyond AI, the mobiles-to-chips conglomerate is also reportedly evaluating new application processors for the Galaxy S26 and considering both Qualcomm (QCOM) Inc. products and its in-house Exynos 2600.
For the recently released Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung used the Exynos chipset in a foldable for the first time. According to reports, the company has sought to reduce reliance on Qualcomm and allay doubts about the efficiency and thermal performance of its Exynos line.
Is GOOGL a Good Stock to Buy Now?
On TipRanks, GOOGL has a Strong Buy consensus based on 28 Buy and 9 Hold ratings. Its highest price target is $250. GOOGL stock's consensus price target is $214.56 implying an 11.65% upside.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Android Authority
20 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Emulating PC games on your non-Snapdragon device just got better
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR GameSir has announced that its GameHub app now offers much better support for MediaTek chipsets with Mali GPUs. The company also revealed that it's working with MediaTek to launch custom Mali GPU drivers. GameHub lets people play PC games on their Android phones without streaming. There are a few ways to natively play PC games on your phone without streaming, with Winlator and GameSir's GameHub app being the most popular solutions. These apps traditionally offer better support for Qualcomm Snapdragon devices, but there's good news if you've got a MediaTek-powered device. GameSir announced via its app that the latest version of GameHub offers much better support for devices with Mali GPUs. It points to devices with MediaTek Dimensity chips, specifically mentioning the Dimensity 9000 to 9400 processors. It says these devices should support DirectX9 to DirectX11 PC games 'with performance comparable to Qualcomm Adreno, and even surpassing it in some scenarios.' The GameHub team delved into some technical challenges with Mali GPUs, starting with the unsatisfactory Vulkan implementation. It pointed to issues like 'unstable' shader compilers and missing driver capabilities. So how did GameSir address these problems? For one, the team said it invested time and resources in debugging/analyzing Dimensity devices and 'optimized' resource scheduling. Furthermore, it created a 'code conversion mechanism to optimize DirectX instructions into a format executable by Mali GPUs.' The team says it also made runtime optimizations in cases where the driver functionality wasn't adequate. Weirdly enough, the GameHub team also claimed that it offers 'native support' for 32-bit PC games. That sounds rather crazy, as compatibility layers like Wine or tools like Box can incur a performance penalty and technically don't offer native support. In some major news for mobile gamers, GameSir also said it's teaming up with MediaTek to eventually offer custom GPU drivers. We plan to jointly launch custom drivers with MediaTek, specifically designed for GameFusion, to address long-standing Mali GPU issues at the chip level, further enhancing the gaming performance of Dimensity devices. There's no release timeline for these drivers, though. This is still welcome news, as one major advantage of Snapdragon devices is the prevalence of open-source Adreno drivers (dubbed Turnip). These drivers can improve emulation/gaming performance and address bugs. MediaTek isn't the only chipmaker using Mali GPUs, though. Google Pixel phones with Tensor chips use Mali GPUs too. We've asked GameSir's representatives whether some of these improvements will filter down to Pixel phones. We've also asked the representatives for more details on 'native support' for 32-bit PC games. We'll update the article when the company gets back to us. Nevertheless, we hope a few of these improvements and optimizations come to Pixel devices. However, Pixel 10 rumors suggest that Google will switch to Imagination GPUs. So even if these upgrades apply to Pixel phones with Mali graphics, it won't apply to the Pixel 10 series. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice. Follow
Android Authority
20 minutes ago
- Android Authority
After Facer, Pujie and WatchMaker announce Wear OS 6 support
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR After Facer, watch face distribution apps Pujie and WatchMaker are extending support for Wear OS 6. The updated versions comply with Google's mandate to switch to the new Watch Face Format. While Pujie is separating development into two apps (for new and old watches), WatchMaker is likely to continue using just one. With Wear OS 5, Google introduced a new standard to make watch faces more power-efficient. And, to ensure watch face designers and developers running distribution apps like Facer, Pujie, or WatchMaker make the switch to Watch Face Format (or WFF), it effectively blocked support for legacy watch faces on newer Wear OS versions. Starting 2026, legacy watch faces cannot co-exist with WFF ones on these distribution apps, which is why Facer recently announced an updated phone app that works with Wear OS 6 watches. That will include support for the Watch Ultra and the newly launched Galaxy Watch 8 — with many more to follow. Now, other apps, Pujie and WatchMaker, are also making the switch, bringing similar solutions with Wear OS in mind. Pujie is bifurcating its efforts into two apps: one to apply watch faces to smartwatches running Wear OS 6 and future versions, and another to support watches running Wear OS 4 or older versions. This separation ensures that the older app continues to support legacy watch faces while the newer version works only with WFF. Pujie's approach differs from Facer's, which does not require you to download two separate apps if you have two different smartwatches. However, you need to select the smartwatch within Facer's Android app where you wish to apply a new watch face, and the app dynamically refreshes to support only one of the two kinds — legacy or WFF — faces. To put it simply, Facer is running two versions of the apps in a broader environment. In contrast, Pujie's approach might make sense for its use case, since it allows extensive customization of watch faces, including a system where you can create your own watch faces using different building blocks. Among other changes to the new app, it introduces a real-time simulator to reflect changes immediately and supports animation preview and will also let you transfer watch faces between two versions of the app. Meanwhile, WatchMaker did not clarify in its blog post which approach it is taking, although it appears to be proceeding in the same manner as Facer. This approach is suggested by a single app listing on the Google Play Store by WatchMaker's publisher, 'androidslide.' Additionally, WatchMaker's blog post notes that more than 130,000 watch faces have already been adapted to support WFF, and all you need to do to use those is sync them to the new watch again. What's with Google's Watch Face Format? Google's Watch Face Format takes a modular approach, where designers and developers only need to work on the front end and upload the details in a lightweight XML file, while the Wear OS system automatically handles the execution. Although this allows for lighter watch faces that are quicker to sync and consume less battery, it also limits visual effects such as depth or shadow, rendering very artificial-looking visuals. This approach can be especially detrimental to watch faces that simulate analog watches, and has also resulted in enthusiasts, including my colleague Rita El Khoury, lamenting these limitations. Follow
Android Authority
20 minutes ago
- Android Authority
I loved the Galaxy Z Flip 7's new cover screen until the software ruined it
I love flip phone foldables. More specifically, I love flip phones with big cover screens. Being able to comfortably reply to texts, check notifications, and use apps on a large, high-quality cover screen is one of my favorite things about the flip phone form factor — and it's why I was so excited to get my hands on the Galaxy Z Flip 7. For the last couple of years, Samsung's cover screen tech has paled in comparison to its competitors, namely Motorola in the US. For all Samsung has gotten right with the Z Flip series, its small, low-resolution, and low-refresh-rate cover displays have always lagged behind the competition. But not so this year. I've had the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for just about a day, and I've spent most of my time playing with the new cover screen. It's a massive improvement over Samsung's previous attempts and by far the best we've seen on a Z Flip yet. But as much as I love the hardware, Samsung's software greatly holds everything back. Do you think the Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen was worth the wait? 0 votes Yes, it's exactly what I've been waiting for. NaN % I love the hardware, but the software is disappointing. NaN % No, I'm not impressed by it at all. NaN % Other (let us know in the comments). NaN % The Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen hardware is exceptional Joe Maring / Android Authority I want to start by talking about what Samsung got right, which, admittedly, is a lot. The most obvious upgrade over the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the display size, which has increased from 3.4 inches to 4.1 inches. That new full-screen design, combined with impressively thin bezels, is a truly impressive sight to behold. Apps, like Telegram and Slack, are easy to navigate and don't feel cramped in the slightest. I can see a long list of notifications without scrolling, and typing on the cover screen's keyboard is far more comfortable than it was on the Flip 6. An extra 0.7 inches may not sound like much, but in practice, it's a night-and-day difference. And as much as I've enjoyed the cover screen's extra real estate, that's not the only hardware upgrade I've been thrilled with. The resolution jump from 720 x 748 to 948 x 1048 is immediately noticeable. Where the Flip 6's cover screen looked grainy and fuzzy to my eyes, the Flip 7's is as sharp as a tack. Joe Maring / Android Authority The upgrade from a 60Hz refresh rate to 120Hz is even more apparent, making the cover screen feel fluid and responsive in a way no Z Flip cover screen has felt previously. Additionally, the brightness increase (from 1600 nits up to a staggering 2600 nits) has been immensely helpful when using the Flip 7 in direct sunlight. I've been waiting for the day that Samsung finally released a Z Flip with a cover screen that didn't feel stuck in the past. Having now used the Z Flip 7, I can confidently say that day has finally come. At least, it has from a hardware perspective. But the software is another story Joe Maring / Android Authority Unfortunately, it's a different conversation we need to have about the cover screen software. In Samsung's efforts to springboard the Flip 7's cover screen hardware into the modern era, the software was largely left behind. Samsung created a big, bright, and sharp display I want to interact with, but numerous roadblocks create a lot of unnecessary friction. The most obvious complaint is that of using apps on the cover screen. Samsung still requires you to jump through extra hoops and use Good Lock if you want to use anything other than Google Maps, Messages, Netflix, or YouTube. It is annoying, though Samsung has slightly simplified the process this year, and it's only something you have to do once. However, this perfectly highlights a far bigger issue. Why create such a high-quality and capable cover screen yet withhold such basic functionality from it? Once the Good Lock widget is on your cover screen, you see all of the apps you've chosen, along with a + icon to add more. Presumably, tapping that icon would allow you to add more apps directly from the cover screen. But no. Instead, it displays an 'Open phone to continue' pop-up, forcing you to open the Flip 7 to proceed. Unfortunately, this is something you see a lot of. Want to customize your current clock face? You need to open the Flip 7. Want to add a new clock design? Open the Flip 7. Want to edit widgets on one of your home screens? Time to open the Flip 7! Even some app notifications refuse to display the notification content on the cover screen, instead telling you to 'Open the phone and check the notification panel for details.' There are other issues, too. You can't customize the quick settings panel on the cover screen, and the toggles that are present are extremely limited compared to the main display (such as only being able to toggle Wi-Fi on/off and not being able to select a specific Wi-Fi network). Also, while you can reply to texts and emails, you have to use the terrible, horrible Samsung Keyboard even if you've set something like Gboard as your default keyboard. I just have one question for Samsung: Why? Why create such a high-quality and capable cover screen yet withhold such basic functionality from it? These are limitations carried over from previous Z Flips, and it feels lazy on Samsung's part not to fix them for the Flip 7's upgraded cover screen. What could have been Joe Maring / Android Authority Sometimes while using the Galaxy Z Flip 7, I'm thrilled with the phone's cover screen. The bigger size is terrific, the resolution and refresh rate upgrades are fantastic, and every interaction is better than one on the Z Flip 6's cover screen. But when I see that 'Open phone to continue' pop-up or am forced to type a typo-ridden message with Samsung Keyboard, the magic fizzles. Samsung finally has a cover screen that's just as good as the competition, and it's a damn shame it's still held back by frustrating software like this. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 easily has the best cover screen of any Z Flip to date, and I wish I could thoroughly love it. But considering how much more it could have been, I'm left feeling a bit disappointed. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Largest ever Flex Window • 6.9-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X folding screen • 7 years of updates MSRP: $1,099.00 Melds Galaxy AI with the new edge-to-edge FlexWindow With a 6.9-inch main display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow outer display, the Samsung Galaxy Flip 7 focuses on putting AI smarts in your pocket. Measuring just 13.74mm thick when folded, it's the slimmest Z Flip phone yet. Packed with a 50MP camera and a suite of AI tools, Samsung calls the Z Flip 7 a "pocket-sized selfie studio." See price at Amazon See price at Samsung See price at Amazon Save $200.00 Limited Time Deal! Follow
