Alphabet tops Q2 estimates with 14 percent revenue jump as AI ambitions and legal challenges define future
, the parent company of
, reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings on Wednesday(July 23), with revenue rising 14 percent to $96.4 billion and earnings per share increasing 22 percent to $2.31. Wall Street had projected $93.98 billion in revenue and earnings of $2.20 per share.
'AI is positively impacting every part of the business, driving strong momentum,' CEO
Sundar Pichai
said in a statement. The company highlighted growth in its advertising and cloud businesses, as well as the rollout of new AI tools.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
others
Data Science
Finance
Digital Marketing
Others
Technology
MBA
healthcare
MCA
Degree
Data Science
Design Thinking
PGDM
Cybersecurity
Leadership
Artificial Intelligence
Product Management
Management
Data Analytics
Public Policy
Project Management
Healthcare
Operations Management
CXO
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
16 Weeks
Indian School of Business
CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Google Cloud posted strong growth, with revenue up 32 percent to $13.6 billion. Search and other advertising generated $54.2 billion, a 12 percent increase from last year. YouTube ads brought in $9.8 billion.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Indonesia: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You)
Sofas | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
Despite the upbeat earnings, Alphabet shares remained mostly flat after the announcement. One reason is that the company said it would increase capital expenditures by $10 billion, bringing the full-year total to $85 billion. The funds will go toward expanding AI infrastructure and data centers.
Earlier this year, Alphabet shares had fallen as much as 25 percent over concerns about the company's position in the growing AI market. Google's dominance in online search, its biggest revenue driver, is being challenged by AI-powered platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Analysts estimate
ChatGPT
handles 15–20 percent of Google's daily search volume.
Live Events
In response, Google has accelerated AI development. It recently launched AI Mode in Search, a chatbot-like interface similar to ChatGPT, and expanded AI Overviews to over 2 billion monthly users. These features aim to keep users within Google's ecosystem while adapting to the shift in how people seek information.
Still, competition is intensifying. Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management said in a note that Google is working hard to send one clear message: 'AI is a tailwind for search, not a headwind.'
The strong quarter comes as Alphabet faces legal pressure. A federal judge in Washington, DC, recently ruled that Google violated antitrust laws. A decision on potential remedies, including a proposed breakup of parts of Google's business, is expected before Labor Day.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Angel investors in India will become rarer than tigers
Angel investing in India has just crossed a modest milestone of $1 billion in commitments, and already the nascent asset class is facing extinction. Blame it on an overdose of regulatory attention. Until recently, affluent individuals who placed small bets on long shots were targeted with a bizarre 'angel tax,' which viewed startups' fundraising as taxable income. Now that the government has finally scrapped the draconian levy, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has sown fresh seeds of disquiet for people who want to try early-stage allocations via collective investment plans: It wants them to get accredited. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Product Management Finance Others Leadership Degree Digital Marketing Project Management Cybersecurity Design Thinking MBA Management Public Policy PGDM others healthcare Operations Management CXO MCA Data Analytics Technology Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Data Science Data Science Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics Product Development Processes & Market Orientations Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership Duration: 40 Weeks IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Creating Effective Product Roadmap User Research & Translating it to Product Design Key Metrics via Product Analytics Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Product Management Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Roadmapping User-Centric Product Design Agile Product Development Market Analysis & Product Launch Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Commitments into angel funds have swelled by 44% over the past year, and investments have surged by a third. These are reasonable growth rates, but the SEBI seems to believe that it can give a further boost to the 'ease of doing business.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Flat in Chattarpur South Delhi A D Infra Learn More Undo Although that's a welcome sentiment, some caution is warranted. As a risk-taking culture spreads beyond established business families, new sources of finance must emerge. If angel funds exit the scene because their investors don't want to seek accreditation, many promising entrepreneurs may have to drop out before their first meeting with venture capital or private equity. The regulator means well. It wants to unshackle angel investors from India's Companies Act, which limits participation in private placement of securities to 200 subscribers. Any more will require public offerings. But this rule is unfair to regulated funds, where professional managers are required to have skin in the game. Plus, the risks are explained in a memorandum, and explicit investor consent is needed for each bet. There's clearly a need to distinguish between private placements and angel investing. But how does the regulator sidestep a law made by parliament? Live Events It has come up with a plan. From next year, individuals who invest in angel funds will be treated as Qualified Institutional Buyers. Since the law exempts QIBs from the 200-person rule, managers will no longer have to limit participation. This 'would allow angel funds to show opportunities to a wider pool of eligible investors, while staying in conformity with the Companies Act,' the SEBI said last month. There's a catch, however. Since individuals aren't really institutions, the SEBI wants them to become accredited investors like in the US to qualify for the exemption. They will have a year to adjust to the new regime. Trouble is that while 13% of Americans meet the thresholds for buying private securities, so far only 650 Indians have successfully applied for accreditation, according to ET Wealth. That makes them rarer than the Bengal tiger, an endangered species. Bloomberg Do only 0.00005% of Indians earn more than 20 million rupees ($230,000) annually, or have a net worth in excess of $860,000? Not really. Counting just the top tax payers, at least 60,000 people should easily meet those minimum standards. But to get accredited, people have to provide proof to third parties. In a country where authorities send tax bills to roadside vegetable vendors by tracing QR-code-based payments, it's in nobody's interest to furnish documentation showing how rich they are. Not when the memory of the disastrous 'angel tax' is still fresh. Even if the goal is to drive accreditation, why single out startup investors who are doing something worthwhile with their money and time? That already sets them apart from the nine out of 10 Indian retail traders betting on equity options and being taken to the cleaners by big whales like Jane Street. The public-market casino is where the regulator needs to police participation. Private markets don't need the same level of scrutiny beyond ensuring that the capital entering fledgling firms is not tainted. At present, angel investors only self-certify a minimum net worth to their fund manager. The thresholds are low, as is the compliance burden. It is a lax process. Not everyone who is being invited to dabble in unlisted securities has the risk appetite for it. But as long as they are giving informed consent, they can be safely left alone. It's the insurance and banking regulators that have to put a stop to much more widespread deceptive selling in their industries. Why's the SEBI rushing to fix what isn't broken? The $1.2 billion that angels have committed so far may not produce superstar enterprises. That's fine, as long as a growing pot of money helps nurture some gritty entrepreneurs. As I wrote last week, millennial and Gen Z billionaires among India's traditional family-owned firms are bored with business. They don't fancy their chances against either large tycoons, or smart startup founders. But the latter need financing. The SEBI's other ideas are laudable. Relaxing the floor and cap on investments, doing away with concentration limits on exposure, and allowing funds to keep backing startups as they mature will improve returns. But forcing investors to get accredited by third parties? That's sure to backfire, unless the SEBI itself obtains their permission to query the tax returns database. A simple yes or no answer to the eligibility question, based on information they have already shared with tax authorities, could help increase the number of 650 accredited investors manifold. The rich in India are far from endangered, but they don't want to flaunt their stripes any more than they have to.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
RRB Technician Recruitment 2025: Registration deadline extended till this date, check direct link and how to apply online here
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has extended the last date to apply for the Technician Recruitment 2025. Candidates now have time until August 7, 2025 to complete their online applications. This recruitment is being conducted under CEN 02/2025 to fill 6,238 technician posts across Indian Railways. The posts are open to candidates who have passed Class 10 with ITI or hold a diploma in engineering. Meanwhile, the age cut-off date remains unchanged. Applicants must meet the age criteria as of July 1, 2025. The extension allows more time for students and job seekers to apply for stable government jobs in the railway sector. Below are all the important details including eligibility, key dates, and how to apply. RRB Technician application process 2025 Here is how interested candidates can apply for RRB Technician recruitment online: Visit the official RRB portal – Select the regional RRB you wish to apply through. Complete the registration with basic details. Fill out the application form and upload documents. Pay the application fee before August 9, 2025. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference. Direct link to apply for RRB Technician exam 2025 here . Who can apply? Before registering for the RRB technician recruitment exam, candidates must ensure that they fulfill the following eligibility requirements: Educational Qualification: Technician Grade I: Diploma in Engineering or relevant qualification Technician Grade III: 10th pass + ITI in relevant trade or equivalent Age Limit (as on July 1, 2025): Technician Grade I: 18 to 33 years Technician Grade III: 18 to 30 years What happens next? Once the application process closes on August 7, 2025, RRBs will begin the process of reviewing applications. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Thailand (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo Candidates who have paid the fee and submitted complete forms can make corrections during the modification window from August 10 to 19, 2025. Those requiring a scribe for the exam must submit scribe details between August 20 and 24. After this, RRBs will release exam city slips and admit cards. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) is expected to be held later this year. Candidates should regularly check their regional RRB websites and email for updates. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
OpenAI CEO admits he is ‘scared' of using AI
New Delhi: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently admitted that is scared to use 'certain AI stuff' sometimes. Speaking at one of the episodes of Theo Von's podcast 'This Past Weekend', Altman said: 'I get scared sometimes to use certain AI stuff, because I don't know how much personal information I want to put in, because I don't know who's going to have it.' Sam Altman was responding to Von's question on the fast pace of AI development, 'Do you think there should be kind of like a slowing things down?' During the conversation, the OpenAI CEO compared the current competition among AI companies as an 'intense' race not only for commercial domination, but as tool that will echo for generations. He further stated that ChatGPT-maker OpenAI does not move quickly, someone else will, adding that fate of AI could slip out of hands of those most mindful about its social consequences. During the podcast, Altman acknowledged how uncertain the human future is. 'I think all of human history suggests we find a way to put ourselves at the centre of the story and feel really good about it … Even in a world where AI is doing all of this stuff that humans used to do, we are going to find a way in our own telling of the story to feel like the main characters,' he said. Sam Altman also addressed the fear of certain jobs becoming obsolete because of AI. 'How will people survive?' host Von asked. To this, Sam Altman replied: 'AI will create possibilities for individuals to pursue more creative, philosophical, or interpersonal goals.' He said that when everyone can get instant help and knowledge through AI, people can rethink what it means to contribute to society. However, he warned that the shift could be very difficult for those who lose their jobs in the short term.
