Alphabet Inc., the company behind Google, has overtaken Apple Inc., climbing to become the world’s second-most valuable company. The shift comes as investors reward Alphabet’s strong performance in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies.
As of January 8, 2026, Alphabet’s market capitalization was about $3.89 trillion, slightly above Apple’s $3.85 trillion. Alphabet’s shares continued to rise after this, while Apple’s slipped, confirming the new ranking.
Nvidia remains the world’s most valuable company, with a market value of over $4.4 trillion, led by its AI-focused hardware and data center business.
Alphabet’s growth is driven by its AI innovations, including the Gemini 3 model and custom TPU chips, which help Google expand beyond search and ads into cloud computing and AI services. Analysts say Alphabet’s stock was one of the top performers among major tech firms in 2025.
Apple has fallen slightly behind due to slower AI adoption and ongoing leadership transitions. While the company is adding AI features to its products, it has yet to match Alphabet’s scale in the AI space.
Alphabet’s rise highlights how AI is reshaping the global tech landscape, with innovation now a key factor in determining the world’s most valuable companies.
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