Dernières nouvelles pour Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Stock

Alphabet

Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest.

Alphabet Inc

Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) stock is trading lower on Thursday following a report suggesting that Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) &#8211; owned Waymo will launch in Miami in 2026. Here&#8217;s what you <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/analyst-ratings/24/12/42323646/in-depth-examination-of-27-analyst-recommendations-for-uber-technologies">need to know</a>.
What To Know: Waymo announced plans to debut in Miami in 2025 with human safety drivers and begin offering rides via the Waymo app in 2026, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/waymo-announces-robotaxi-expansion-to-miami.html">CNBC</a>.
Alphabet originally tested Waymo in Miami in 2019 and plans to use what it learned upon its return to Miami. Specifically, the company, &#8220;deepened our learning and understanding of the Waymo Driver's performance in adverse weather conditions," a company spokesperson told CNBC.
In recent years, Waymo has experienced growth and has plans for further expansion. The company recently removed the waitlist for Los Angeles users, allowing broader access to the app, and secured approximately $5.6 billion in funding to support the expansion of its self-driving service.
Uber may be trading lower following Waymo&#8217;s expansion into Miami, as the growth of autonomous driving fleets could reduce the demand for human-operated ride services. This shift is typically seen as a potential threat to Uber's business model, as companies like Waymo are already offering autonomous ride-hailing services, and others, such as Tesla, could eventually enter the market with their own self-driving fleets.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42346164/november-jobs-report-preview-will-it-seal-the-deal-for-a-fed-interest-rate-cut">November Jobs Report Preview: Will It Seal The Deal For A Fed Interest Rate Cut?</a>
UBER Price Action: At the time of publication, Uber shares are trading 8.17% lower at $66.31, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: Shutterstock

News

Movers

GOOGL

UBER

What's Going On With Uber Shares Thursday?

Alphabet Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google has introduced Genie 2, an advanced AI tool capable of generating fully interactive 3D game worlds from a single<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence"> image prompt. </a>
The technology, hailed as a &#8220;world model,&#8221; has potential applications ranging from video game prototyping to broader AI research.
Genie 2 builds upon its predecessor, Genie 1, which was limited to creating 2D worlds. This new iteration allows users to generate 3D environments with dynamic perspectives, physics simulations, and interactions. Notably, it incorporates user actions like jumping or swimming.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42310501/playstation-bosses-speaks-about-the-future-of-ai-in-gaming-why-human-creativity-will-always-be-essential-in-game-development">PlayStation Bosses Discuss Future Of AI In Gaming: Why Human Creativity Will Always Be Essential In Game Development</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How Genie 2 Works</h3>
The process begins with an image prompt, often created through Google&#8217;s text-to-image AI tool Imagen 3, though real-world images are also supported. 
Once the prompt is input, Genie 2 generates an interactive environment where users can move, explore, and interact.
Key features include:
<ul>
<li>Dynamic Physics: Realistic simulation of water, gravity, and other environmental elements.</li>
<li>Lighting and Reflections: Advanced rendering techniques to replicate realistic illumination.</li>
<li>NPC Interactions: Automatically generated non-playable characters with responsive behaviors.</li>
<li>Live Content Updates: Continuous world generation that adapts as users explore, maintaining immersion.</li>
</ul>
The generated worlds allow up to one minute of gameplay, during which the AI adapts to control inputs and camera movements, creating new plausible content on the fly.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Tool For Rapid Prototyping</h3>
In a blog post, the company explained that the tool &#8220;enables artists and designers to prototype quickly, which can bootstrap the creative process for environment design, further accelerating research.&#8221;
For game developers, this could mean reducing the time required to design and test virtual environments. 
&#8220;Genie 2 shows the potential of foundational world models for creating diverse 3D environments and accelerating agent research&#8230; As with SIMA, our research is building towards more general AI systems and agents that can understand and safely carry out a wide range of tasks,&#8221; the company <a href="https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/genie-2-a-large-scale-foundation-world-model/">said </a>in a blog post.
The ethical implications of AI in creative industries remain a point of debate. AI tools like Genie 2 have sparked discussions about their role in gaming, particularly concerning potential impacts on jobs in scriptwriting, voice acting, and environment design.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Image credits: Shutterstock.

Gaming

Tech

General

Google's Genie 2 Creates 3D Game Worlds From A Single Image

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) subsidiary Waymo announced on Thursday its plans to introduce its autonomous vehicles to Miami, Florida. The valuation of the driving technology company has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41665245/alphabets-self-driving-subsidiary-waymo-hits-45-billion-valuation-surpassing-ford-other-major-brands">skyrocketed in recent years</a>.
Waymo in Miami: The Mountain View, California-based company highlighted the city&#8217;s growing reputation for innovation and technology in its <a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2024/12/next-stop-miami/">announcement</a>.
&#8220;While Miami is known for its sun and fun, the city is also an emerging hub for innovation,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;Waymo's autonomous driving technology offers an opportunity to provide safer, more accessible, all-electric mobility to Miami's residents and tourists.&#8221;
Waymo will introduce its all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs &#8220;Magic City&#8221; in early 2025. Full capability for riders on the Waymo app will come in 2026.
Miami mayor Francis Suarez reacted to Waymo&#8217;s expansion in the statement.
"Fully autonomous driving technology offers a safe and convenient option to the people of Miami. I'm so pleased to welcome Waymo to our city," Suarez said. "Waymo's commitment to sustainability with their all-electric fleet is the perfect mobility option to our city as we continue to prioritize low-cost, clean energy."
Other Cities: The company&#8217;s vehicles <a href="https://support.google.com/waymo/answer/9059119?hl=en">operate</a> in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Austin. The addition of Miami continues the subsidiary&#8217;s expansion to the most populous warm-weather cities in the U.S.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42335531/jeff-bezos-counters-elon-musk-led-doge-cost-cutting-plan-says-america-needs-growth-orientation-heres-what-the-amazon-founder-said-to-tackle-national-debt">Jeff Bezos Counters Elon Musk-Led DOGE Cost-Cutting Plan, Says America Needs &#8216;Growth Orientation:&#8217; Here&#8217;s What The Amazon Founder Said To Tackle National Debt</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Equities

GOOG

Waymo Announces Expansion To Miami: How Soon Will Self-Driving Cars Hit The 'Magic City'?

Bank of America significantly raised Tesla Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) 12-month price target from $350 to $400, maintaining a Buy rating as the investment bank bets on the company&#8217;s ability to balance strong near-term growth in electric vehicles with bold long-term plays in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/electric-vehicles">autonomous driving and robotics.</a>
In a note to clients Thursday, analyst John Murphy highlighted his optimism following a recent visit to Tesla's Gigafactory in Austin, Texas.
"The trip gave us increased confidence that Tesla is well-positioned to grow in 2025+," Murphy said, citing discussions with investor relations, a factory tour, and test drives that showcased Tesla's technological advancements.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">FSD Advances Bolster Robotaxi Prospects</h3>
Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology stood out during the test drive at Gigafactory Austin, with vehicles demonstrating significant improvements. 
Murphy highlighted how Tesla's Cybertruck and Model Y seamlessly navigated construction zones and managed a challenging left turn against traffic.
"Tesla noted that soon its FSD will require an intervention only once every 10,000 miles," Murphy said, emphasizing that the company's autonomous technology is nearing the safety level required to launch a monitored robotaxi service. 
For comparison, Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Waymo initiated its robotaxi operations after achieving one intervention every 17,000 miles, &#8220;a milestone TSLA believes it could achieve shortly with its growing AI compute.&#8221; 
Murphy highlighted Tesla's growing AI infrastructure, which includes 50,000 active Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) H100 chips as of October. This positions the company to potentially launch its robotaxi service by 2025.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Optimus: Tesla's Robot Revolution</h3>
Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, is already making strides in automation.
Though Optimus currently accounts for just a single-digit percentage of Tesla's AI compute power, Murphy expects this to increase as the robotaxi program stabilizes, accelerating Optimus&#8217; development.
"With more robots in use, training will accelerate," he said, adding that mass production in 2026 and beyond could drive down costs and open new growth avenues for Tesla.
Murphy also indicated Tesla may consider raising capital to support its investments in Optimus, robotaxis, and artificial intelligence. 
"At its current valuation, Tesla could raise $50 billion+ through an equity raise at a relatively modest 4-5% dilution to shareholders," Murphy stated. 
&#8220;TSLA has historically been able to raise capital at an extremely low cost compared to its peers,&#8221; he added.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lower-Cost EV And Expanding TAM</h3>
Tesla plans to launch a lower-cost EV in the first half of 2025, targeting a price point below $30,000, which includes the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. 
Murphy said this vehicle could expand Tesla's total addressable market (TAM), with cost savings achieved through &#8220;a number of areas such as de-contenting, making the motor more efficient and thereby enabling a smaller battery, and changing the interior.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>
Shares of Tesla rose by 3.8% to $371.52 on Thursday, reaching levels last seen in early April 2022, pushing year-to-date gains to 50%.
The all-time highs of $414 reached in November 2021 are now approximately 10% above current prices.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42321567/amazon-hits-all-time-highs-eyes-best-2-year-rally-since-2010-cyber-season-marks-record-sales-aws-shines-with-ai-innovations">Amazon Hits All-Time Highs, Eyes Best 2-Year Rally Since 2010: Cyber Season Marks Record Sales, AWS Shines With AI Innovations</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Analyst Color

Large Cap

NVDA

TSLA

Tesla's Path To $400: Bank Of America Highlights EV, AI Growth

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/waymo-announces-robotaxi-expansion-to-miami.html#:~:text=The%20Alphabet%20%2Downed%20company%20announced,Waymo%20One%20app%20in%202026">https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/waymo-announces-robotaxi-expansion-to-miami.html#:~:text=The%20Alphabet%20%2Downed%20company%20announced,Waymo%20One%20app%20in%202026</a>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Alphabet-owned Waymo said it will expand its fleet into Miami next year with plans to open up paid rides to local users by 2026.</li>
<li>The expansion into Miami is indicative of Waymo's growing confidence in operating its self-driving vehicles in harsher weather conditions in large metropolitan areas in the U.S.</li>
<li>Waymo has been rapidly expanding its operations over the last year thanks to additional funding.</li>
</ul>
Waymo is setting its sights on its next location: the Sunshine State.
The <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/GOOGL/">Alphabet</a>-owned company announced Thursday that it will be hitting the roads in Miami. Waymo said it will first begin cruising through the Florida city with human safety drivers in 2025 before opening doors to riders for its robotaxi service through its Waymo One app in 2026.
&nbsp;
The expansion into Miami is indicative of Waymo's growing confidence in operating its self-driving vehicles in harsher weather conditions in large metropolitan areas in the U.S.
Waymo first tested in Miami in 2019, which the company said helped improve the ability of its self-driving vehicles to navigate in wet and rainy conditions.
"We deepened our learning and understanding of the Waymo Driver's performance in adverse weather conditions," a company spokesperson said.
Waymo will use what it learned when it returns to the city with its all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs next year.
The company said its initial territory in Florida will include some parts of Miami's larger metropolitan area, which has a population of more than 6 million people.
&nbsp;
Waymo has been rapidly expanding its operations over the last year thanks to additional funding.
In November, the company <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/12/waymo-opens-robotaxi-service-to-anyone-in-los-angeles.html">announced</a> it was removing its waitlist of about 300,000 people in Los Angeles, so anyone would be able to use Waymo One to hail a self-driving robotaxi throughout the nearly 80 square miles of Los Angeles County. The company's ride-hailing service also operates citywide in Phoenix and San Francisco.
And in September, Waymo <a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2024/09/waymo-and-uber-expand-partnership/">announced</a> a partnership with <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/UBER/">Uber</a> in Austin and Atlanta. Through that deal, Uber riders will be able to access Waymo's robotaxis through the Uber app starting in early 2025, and Uber will be responsible for fleet management and operations of the Waymo vehicles, including maintenance and infrastructure, such as vehicle charging, cleaning and repairs.&nbsp;
Additionally, Waymo on Thursday announced that it will partner with mobility company<a href="https://www.moove.io/"> Moove</a> to manage its fleet operations, facilities and charging infrastructure in both Miami and Phoenix. Moove will begin managing Waymo's Phoenix fleet in early 2025, a Waymo spokesperson said.&nbsp;
Waymo closed a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/alphabets-self-driving-unit-waymo-closes-5point6-billion-funding-round.html">$5.6 billion funding round</a> in October to expand its robotaxi service across the U.S. The autonomous vehicle venture's parent company, Alphabet, which also owns Google, led the funding round alongside earlier backers, including Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, Perry Creek, Silver Lake, Tiger Global and T. Rowe Price.
The robotaxi company said it now sees more than 150,000 paid rides per week via the Waymo One app across San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles.&nbsp;
Waymo is the only autonomous vehicle developer that currently operates a commercial robotaxi service in several major metro areas across the U.S., but competitors are looming.&nbsp;
GM-owned Cruise is working on bringing its autonomous vehicles back into use on public roads after discontinuing its services following an accident where one of its self-driving cars injured a pedestrian in San Francisco.&nbsp;
Tesla, meanwhile, showed off design concepts for a self-driving Cybercab and Robovan at an event in October. However, Tesla still classifies the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software in its vehicles as "partially automated driving systems," which require a human to be ready to steer or brake at all times. In an <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/23/tesla-tsla-q3-2024-earnings-report.html">October earnings call</a>, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company will launch a self-driving ride-hailing service in California and Texas as early as 2025.
SoftBank-funded Wayve is testing its autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/AMZN/">Amazon</a>-owned Zoox is also testing its self-driving cars, which do not feature steering wheels, in several U.S. cities.

'Waymo To Expand To Miami, Aims To Launch Robotaxi Service There In 2026' - CNBC

Shares of Trade Desk Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) are up 8% to $139.51 this week following reports of a potential merger with streaming giant Roku Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>).
The speculation comes as Trade Desk accelerates its expansion into the connected TV (CTV) market with the recent launch of its Ventura OS, unveiled on November 20.
What To Know: Analysts at Guggenheim Securities highlighted the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42278221/trade-desk-shares-are-on-the-rise-today-what-you-need-to-know">strategic appeal of such a merger</a>. They noted that integrating Trade Desk&#8217;s demand-side advertising platform with Roku's global streaming footprint, spanning over 85 million households, could significantly enhance both companies' positions in the competitive CTV space.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/24/12/42271421/what-the-options-market-tells-us-about-trade-desk">What The Options Market Tells Us About Trade Desk</a>
The merger could bolster Trade Desk's ambitions for Ventura OS while improving Roku's ability to monetize its advertising inventory, potentially positioning the combined entity as a formidable rival to Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).
However, challenges remain. Roku's CEO Anthony Wood, who controls a substantial voting share, would need to approve any deal. Analysts also cautioned that merging could raise conflicts of interest for Trade Desk, particularly regarding fair treatment of advertising clients.
While no official talks have been confirmed, the news underscores overlapping goals between the two companies, particularly in navigating competition from dominant players like Amazon and Alphabet.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42336184/exclusive-bitcoin-crossing-100000-is-a-defining-moment-experts-say">EXCLUSIVE: Bitcoin Crossing $100,000 Is A &#8216;Defining Moment,&#8217; Experts Say</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy TTD Stock</h2>
By now you're likely curious about how to participate in the market for Trade Desk &#8211; be it to purchase shares, or even attempt to bet against the company.
Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy ‘fractional shares,' which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share. For example, some stock, like Berkshire Hathaway, can cost thousands of dollars to own just one share. However, if you only want to invest a fraction of that, brokerages will allow you to do so.
In the the case of Trade Desk, which is trading at $139.51 as of publishing time, $100 would buy you 0.72 shares of stock.
If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to ‘go short' a share of stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading &#8211; either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, TTD has a 52-week high of $141.53 and a 52-week low of $61.48.

AMZN

ROKU

Why Trade Desk (TTD) Stock Is Up 8% This Week

Elon Musk&#8216;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/xai">artificial intelligence (AI) startup, xAI</a>, has revealed plans to expand its Colossus supercomputer by over tenfold. This move is aimed at closing the gap with competitors such as Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) subsidiary Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
What Happened: The Colossus supercomputer, which was constructed in just three months, is set to incorporate more than 1 million graphics processing units (GPUs), <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/9c0516cf-dd12-4665-aa22-712de854fe2f">reported</a>&nbsp;the Financial Times&nbsp;on Wednesday. The supercomputer, which is currently the largest in the world, operates a cluster of over 100,000 interconnected Nvidia GPUs.
The expansion process has already commenced at the Memphis facility, with companies like Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer establishing&nbsp;operations in Memphis to support&nbsp;the expansion. The Greater Memphis Chamber also plans to create an &#8220;xAI special operations team&#8221; to provide round-the-clock service to the company.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42325788/fed-chair-powell-bitcoin-is-like-gold-just-virtual-and-digital?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fed Chair Powell: Bitcoin Is &#8216;Like Gold, It&#8217;s Just Virtual And Digital&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: AI companies are currently in a race to secure GPUs and access to data centers to meet the computing power demands for training and running their large-language models.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41556636/microsoft-and-openai-clash-over-14-billion-as-the-ai-leader-converts-to-a-for-profit-business-disrup">has a nearly $14 billion partnership</a> with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), which includes computing power credits. Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, has received an $8 billion investment from Amazon and is set to gain access to a new cluster of over 100,000 specialized AI chips.
The AI industry is witnessing fierce competition for computing power, with major players like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), OpenAI, and Anthropic making significant moves to strengthen their positions.
On Tuesday, Jeff Bezos-backed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42309656/amazon-unleashes-powerful-ai-chip-clusters-to-supercharge-anthropics-models-while-challenging-nvidia-and-openais-dominance">Amazon unveiled advanced AI chip clusters</a> to boost the performance of its partner, Anthropic, challenging the dominance of current market leaders, Nvidia and OpenAI. This move by xAI to expand its supercomputer is another significant development in this ongoing battle for AI supremacy.
Despite being a relatively new player in the AI industry, xAI, which is valued at $45 billion, has been rapidly gaining ground. The company, founded by Musk just over a year ago, has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/11/42235738/in-just-16-months-elon-musk-achieved-with-xai-what-took-openai-nearly-nine-years-to-accomplish">reportedly recently raised an additional $5 billion</a> and is now in direct competition with OpenAI, a company Musk helped co-found in 2015.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42281558/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-dip-as-investors-get-spooked-by-us-governments-2b-btc-transfer-analyst-says-breakout-above-100k-could-trigger-20-25-correction-in-top-crypto?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Dip As Investors Get Spooked By US Government&#8217;s $2B BTC Transfer: Analyst Says</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Markets

MSFT

Elon Musk's xAI To Expand Colossus Supercomputer Tenfold, Challenging Google, OpenAI And Jeff Bezos-Backed Anthropic

On Wednesday, Jim Cramer voiced his apprehensions regarding Gail Slater&#8217;s potential appointment as Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust.
What Happened: The host of CNBC&#8217;s Mad Money took to X, formerly Twitter, and highlighted that Slater is not perceived as a supporter of major tech companies.
This includes tech giants like Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google. Her role will focus on addressing competition issues, a priority underscored by President-elect Donald Trump.
Slater is expected to continue the antitrust division&#8217;s efforts against big tech, a stance Trump reiterated on his social media platform.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42256614/trumps-ai-czar-plans-alibabas-new-model-cathie-wood-on-tesla-ai-and-musks-combat-transformation-this-week-in-artificial-intelligence?itm_source=parsely-api">Trump&#8217;s AI Czar Plans, Alibaba&#8217;s New Model, Cathie Wood On Tesla AI, And Musk&#8217;s Combat Transformation: This Week In Artificial Intelligence</a>
"She&#8217;s not known as a friend of big tech," Cramer stated, adding, "Not good for Google for certain."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Hmmm, Gail Slater gets the nod doe Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust. She&#39;s not known as a friend of big tech. Not at all&#8230; A Vance advisor, she&#39;s tasked with, as president-elect Trump says, stopping tech because it is &quot;stifling competition. Not good for Google for…
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1864364036218933598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
Slater&#8217;s background includes serving on the White House&#8217;s National Economic Council in 2018 and working with Fox Corp and Roku. Her experience at the FTC involved blocking mergers, such as Whole Foods&#8217; acquisition of Wild Oats.
Why It Matters: Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice sought a court order compelling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/11/42053249/google-could-lose-chrome-browser-in-dojs-latest-antitrust-move">Google to divest</a> its Chrome browser after a ruling determined the company had unlawfully monopolized the search market.
President-elect Trump&#8217;s administration has signaled a tough stance on tech giants, with policies that could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/11/41774549/trumps-big-tech-policies-what-gop-victory-means-for-apple-google-microsoft">significantly impact companies</a> like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Google.
Trump&#8217;s proposed tariffs, as high as 60% on goods made in China, could affect companies like Apple, which manufactures most of its products there. This could lead to increased costs for consumers.
Previously, Trump expressed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41351251/trump-says-google-has-a-lot-of-power-but-stops-short-of-endorsing-a-break-up">concerns about Google&#8217;s</a> market power, though he stopped short of endorsing a breakup. He has also criticized the company&#8217;s search results for alleged bias.
Earlier, venture capitalist David Sacks predicted a high <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42058073/google-should-be-broken-up-vc-david-sacks-foresees-high-odds-of-antitrust-lawsuit-or-breakup-under-donald-trumps-administration">likelihood of legal</a> action or a breakup of Google under Trump&#8217;s administration, citing the company&#8217;s dominance in search, advertising, and YouTube.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42260222/how-nvidia-ceos-clever-but-nerdy-pick-up-line-turned-a-homework-proposal-into-marriage-while-building-338-trillion-ai-chip-giant-along-the-way?itm_source=parsely-api">How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang&#8217;s Clever Pick-Up Line Turned A Homework Proposal Into Marriage While Building $3.38 Trillion AI Chip Giant Along The Way</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AAPL

Jim Cramer Says Google Could Be In Hot Water As Trump Taps Gail Slater For Antitrust Position: 'Not A Friend Of Big Tech'

On Tuesday, Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) announced plans to seek proposals from nuclear energy developers to accomplish its artificial intelligence innovation <a target="_blank" href="https://sustainability.atmeta.com/blog/2024/12/03/accelerating-the-next-wave-of-nuclear-to-power-ai-innovation/" rel="noreferrer noopener">and sustainability goals</a>.
The artificial intelligence frenzy has been pivotal in the accelerated adoption of nuclear energy as a power source, prompting big tech firms to indulge in nuclear energy-related projects to generate power for their ongoing AI development initiatives, Reuters reports.
The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads is eyeing 1-4 gigawatts (GW) of new nuclear generation capacity in the U.S. starting in the early 2030s.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42302411/meta-platforms-talks-political-misinformation-content-moderation-in-latest-blog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Platforms Talks Political Misinformation, Content Moderation In Latest Blog</a>
The company emphasized the importance of electric grids expanding and adopting new sources of reliable, clean, and renewable energy to drive the technologies that will build the future of human connection, including the next wave of AI innovation.
According to Reuters, Meta Platforms expects nuclear energy to support the growth needs of the electric grids that power its data centers and the communities around them.
Meanwhile, Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) cloud unit Amazon Web Services tapped with Dominion Energy, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/D#NYSE">D</a>) to develop a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/commodities/24/11/42188152/amazon-google-and-microsoft-bet-big-on-nuclear-ais-growing-energy-demands-fuel-new-projects" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">small modular reactor</a> near Dominion&#8217;s existing North Anna nuclear power station. In October, Amazon committed over $500 million in nuclear power across three projects from Virginia to Washington state. AWS expects the new SMRs to add a minimum of 300 megawatts of power to the Virginia region.
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google forged a deal with Kairos Power to buy power via SMRs, enabling up to&nbsp;500 MW&nbsp;of new carbon-free power to U.S. electricity grids.
Microsoft Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)&nbsp;engaged Constellation Energy Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>) to reopen Pennsylvania&#8217;s Three Mile Island nuclear plant. Microsoft agreed to exclusively purchase the plant&#8217;s energy for two decades.
Meta Platforms stock has surged over 77% year-to-date. Bank of America, Rosenblatt, Goldman Sachs, and Needham analysts projected upside for the stock fueled by Llama and Meta AI. Meta&#8217;s AI investments drove the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41658862/meta-is-an-ai-story-fueled-by-llama-and-meta-ai-says-bullish-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">20% revenue growth</a> and have the potential for upside despite higher capex, as per the analysts. 
Price Action: META stock was down 0.77% at $608.75 at last check Wednesday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42301391/marvell-reveals-latest-offering-to-scale-accelerated-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marvell Unveils New Platform, Targets Growing AI Bandwidth Demands</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Meta Joins Big Tech's Shift To Nuclear Power For AI Ambitions

<a href="https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15526161?hl=en" title="https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15526161?hl=en">https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15526161?hl=en</a>

"Google Ads Personalized Ads Policy Will Be Updated To Allow Personalization For Social Casino Game App Campaigns. We Will Begin To Allow These Ads On December 4, 2024. All Advertisers Will Gain The Ability To Personalize Online Social Casino Game App Ads By The End Of March 2025"

Many companies dealing in artificial intelligence (AI) saw their valuations skyrocket in 2024. Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), for example, became the most valuable company in the world <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/11/41761849/nvidia-blows-past-apple-to-become-worlds-most-valuable-company">several times throughout the year</a>. 
One CEO of an AI company predicts 2025 will be a different scenario, and there could be at least one unnamed company in the space that sees its market capitalization cut in half.
What Happened: Hugging Face co-founder and CEO Clem Delangue shared his 2025 predictions in a LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7269341028799725568/">post</a>:
<ul>
<li>There will be the first major public protest related to AI</li>
<li>A big company will see its market cap divided by two or more because of AI</li>
<li>At least 100,000 personal AI robots will be pre-ordered</li>
<li>China will start to lead the AI race (as a consequence of leading the open-source AI race)</li>
<li>There will be big breakthroughs in AI for biology and chemistry</li>
<li>We will begin to see the economic and employment growth potential of AI, with 15M AI builders on Hugging Face</li>
</ul>
Based on prediction three above, Delangue sees strong demand for personal AI robots, which could be music to the ears of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) investors. The Austin, Texas-based carmaker is expected to share more details on its Optimus Bot in 2025 and begin taking pre-orders.
Other investors, particularly those in the AI space, will likely not love seeing some of Delangue&#8217;s predictions come true.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/11/42198904/ai-jesus-hears-confessions-in-switzerland-has-artificial-intelligence-gone-too-far">AI Jesus Hears Confessions In Switzerland: Has Artificial Intelligence Gone Too Far?</a>
Why It's Important: Delangue's 2025 predictions should be taken seriously. After all, the CEO shared how his 2024 predictions did in the same post. A green check mark indicates a hit while red circles mean he missed.
<ul>
<li>A hyped AI company will go bankrupt or get acquired for a ridiculously low price (green check)</li>
<li>Open-source LLMs will reach the level of the best closed-source LLMs (green check)</li>
<li>Big breakthroughs in AI for video, time-series, biology and chemistry (green check for video, red circle for time-series, biology and chemistry)</li>
<li>We will talk much more about the cost (monetary and environmental) of AI (green check for monetary, red circle for environmental)</li>
<li>A popular media will be mostly AI-generated (green check)</li>
<li>10 million AI builders on Hugging Face leading to no increase of unemployment (says soon, while listing 7M of AI builders on Hugging Face)</li>
</ul>
With Delangue at the helm, Hugging Face <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/34042661/nvidia-backed-open-source-ai-startup-reaches-4-5b-valuation-with-tech-titans-support">raised $235 million</a> in a funding round, which valued the company at $4.5 billion in August 2023.
The company&#8217;s investors include Nvidia, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), International Business Machines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>) and Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>).
Hugging Face has partnerships with several of these investors. The company<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41799600/nvidia-partners-with-ai-startup-hugging-face-to-supercharge-open-source-robotics"> announced a partnership </a>with Nvidia for the robotics sector last month. Earlier this year, Hugging Face also partnered with Amazon to work on AI models.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40909973/blackrock-microsoft-others-team-up-for-30b-artificial-intelligence-fund-help-us-fuel-ai-innovation-a">BlackRock, Microsoft, Others Team Up For $30B Artificial Intelligence Fund: Help US Fuel &#8216;AI Innovation And Economic Growth&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

INTC

QCOM

Nvidia-Backed Hugging Face CEO Makes 6 Predictions For 2025: Expect Robotics Growth, Valuation Cuts For AI

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in GOOGL often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 10 options trades for Alphabet. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 30% bullish and 60% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $29,197, and 9 calls, totaling $471,143.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $160.0 to $195.0 for Alphabet over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Alphabet's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Alphabet's whale trades within a strike price range from $160.0 to $195.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Alphabet Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733324510_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$17.85</td>
<td>$17.3</td>
<td>$17.5</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$105.0K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>266</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$17.5</td>
<td>$17.3</td>
<td>$17.4</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$86.9K</td>
<td>15.7K</td>
<td>59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/06/24</td>
<td>$0.61</td>
<td>$0.6</td>
<td>$0.61</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$65.3K</td>
<td>19.6K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/06/24</td>
<td>$2.79</td>
<td>$2.65</td>
<td>$2.68</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$52.9K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>385</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$1.02</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$48.4K</td>
<td>30.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Alphabet</h3>
Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Alphabet, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Alphabet Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 5,867,700, the price of GOOGL is up by 0.87%, reaching $172.84.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 55 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Alphabet</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $185.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Loop Capital continues to hold a Hold rating for Alphabet, targeting a price of $185. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Alphabet options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Alphabet's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly facing a delay in its ambitious smart home vision, with a key product now expected to launch in 2025.
What Happened: On Wednesday, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared insights indicating that Apple's display-equipped HomePod, a key component of Cupertino&#8217;s strategy, has faced multiple production delays.
According to Kuo, the HomePod&#8217;s mass production was initially set for 2024 but has been postponed to after WWDC 2025, primarily due to software development challenges.&nbsp;
The new HomePod is expected to feature an A18 processor, a 6–7 inch display, and support for Apple Intelligence.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42286671/apples-foldable-iphone-could-spark-smartphone-market-revival-in-2026-says-expert?itm_source=parsely-api">Apple&#8217;s Foldable iPhone Could Spark Smartphone Market Revival In 2026, Says Expert</a>
He suggested that this product will mark a strategic shift in Apple&#8217;s HomePod lineup, similar to how the Apple Watch evolved from an iPhone accessory to a health management device.
"The display-equipped HomePod is expected to ship around 500,000 units in 2H25. If the market response is positive, this product's annual shipments could reach the million-unit level," Kuo predicted.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Smart Home Market Becomes Apple's Next Strategic Target; New HomePod with Display Set to Be Key Product in Apple's Smart Home Strategy<a href="https://t.co/smpxEOLb9a">https://t.co/smpxEOLb9a</a>
&mdash; 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mingchikuo/status/1864184005530448366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Previously, it was reported that Apple is working on a new AI wall tablet, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/41928049/apples-new-ai-wall-tablet-with-siri-and-video-calling-set-to-challenge-amazon-and-google-in-smart-home-race">codenamed J490</a>, which aims to challenge competitors like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) in the smart home market.
This device, expected to be announced as early as March, will serve as a home command center, integrating AI for app navigation and video calls.
Apple is also reportedly planning to enter the smart home <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41891237/apples-smart-camera-coming-in-2026-cupertino-eyeing-tens-of-millions-in-annual-shipments-says-top-supply-chain-analyst">IP camera market in 2026</a>, to achieve tens of millions in annual shipments.
According to Kuo, Apple may integrate this smart camera and HomePod "with its existing ecosystem and HomeKit to deliver a seamless smart home experience."
In October, Apple reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41666494/apple-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-installed-base-hits-new-highs-iphone-sales-rise-as-apple-in">fourth-quarter revenue</a> of $94.9 billion, surpassing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">analysts&#8217; projections</a> of $94.56 billion. The tech giant also reported adjusted earnings of $1.64 per share for the quarter, exceeding expectations of $1.60 per share.
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock rose 1.28% on Tuesday, closing at $242.65, with an additional 0.14% gain in after-hours trading, bringing the price to $243. So far this year, Apple shares have surged 30.71%, outperforming the Nasdaq 100 index, which has climbed 28.32% over the same period, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Apple's consensus price target is $242.26 from 31 analysts, with the highest at $300 set by Wedbush on Nov. 29. Latest ratings from Wedbush, Morgan Stanley, and Maxim Group average $262.67, suggesting an 8.09% upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/04022256/Screenshot-2024-12-04-at-12.52.51%E2%80%AFPM-1024x380.png" alt="" class="wp-image-675862" /></a></figure>
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple HomePod Could Be Delayed Until 2025: Top Analyst Predicts The Device Will Play Key Part In iPhone Maker's 'Smart Home Strategy'

On Tuesday, Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google introduced its Veo video generator to select Cloud customers.
What Happened: The AI model, capable of creating short video clips from images and prompts, is now available in private preview on Vertex AI, Google&#8217;s AI development platform.
Veo&#8217;s introduction will allow Quora to integrate the tool into its Poe <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36572871/quoras-vision-for-ai-chatbots-takes-a-giant-leap-with-75m-funding-from-silicon-valleys-andreessen-ho">chatbot platform</a>, while Mondelez International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>), maker of Oreo, plans to use it for marketing content creation with agency partners.
Initially unveiled in April, Veo can produce 1080p clips of up to six seconds, capturing various visual styles and making edits to existing footage.
In a blog post, Warren Barkley, senior director of product management at Google Cloud, stated that the model has been upgraded for enterprise readiness. It now supports high-definition video creation in different aspect ratios.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42256614/trumps-ai-czar-plans-alibabas-new-model-cathie-wood-on-tesla-ai-and-musks-combat-transformation-this-week-in-artificial-intelligence?itm_source=parsely-api">Trump&#8217;s AI Czar Plans, Alibaba&#8217;s New Model, Cathie Wood On Tesla AI, And Musk&#8217;s Combat Transformation: This Week In Artificial Intelligence</a>
Veo&#8217;s training involved high-quality, curated datasets, with Google maintaining that its models are primarily trained on publicly available sources.
The tech giant has implemented prompt-level filters and an indemnity policy to address potential copyright issues, ensuring a defense for eligible Veo users against infringement allegations.
Moreover, Google also announced that its flagship image generator, Imagen 3, is now accessible to all Vertex AI customers without the need for a waitlist.
However, its new customization and image editing features are currently available only through a separate waitlist.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The launch of Google&#8217;s Veo video generator comes amid a competitive landscape where major tech companies are racing to innovate in AI-driven video technology.
In February, OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42206104/openais-sora-video-model-leak-exposes-deep-rift-with-artists-unpaid-rd-pr-puppets-and-content-approval-fury-what-you-need-to-know">launched its video generator</a>, the Sora AI model. Since its high-profile debut, Sora has faced significant challenges, with errors in video generation quickly highlighting its weaknesses.
Last week, reports surfaced that a group of beta testers leaked the unreleased Sora model, protesting OpenAI&#8217;s handling of artists.
In September 2024, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) introduced a beta version of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40960339/amazons-ai-effort-takes-aim-at-a-household-name-with-new-video-technology">AI-powered video generation tool</a>, targeting advertisers. This move positioned Amazon to compete with Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>), which is also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40819405/adobe-shakes-up-video-editing-with-ai-powered-creation-tools-whats-on-the-cards">advancing its AI capabilities</a> with the Firefly Video Model.
Later in October, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) also launched Movie Gen, a tool for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/10/41188250/metas-movie-gen-brings-ai-powered-video-audio-creation-to-all">creating high-quality videos</a>, images, and audio from text prompts.
Price Action: As of this update, Alphabet&#8217;s Class A shares increased by 0.14% in after-hours trading, reaching $171.58, while Class C shares rose by 0.098% to $173.19. During Tuesday&#8217;s regular session, Class A shares fell by 0.087% to $171.34, while Class C shares gained 0.023%, closing at $173.02, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41061167/ios-18-includes-apples-new-passwords-app-with-end-to-end-encryption-heres-how-you-use-it">iOS 18 Includes Apple's New Passwords App with End-to-End Encryption: Here's How You Use It</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

ADBE

MDLZ

Google's Veo Video Generator Arrives On Cloud: How Oreo Maker Mondelez Is Using AI For Creative Content

Aswath Damodaran, finance professor at New York Univerisity&#8217;s Stern School of Business, told Bloomberg Television on Monday that he recommends buying any of the Magnificent Seven <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42143676/which-magnificent-7-stock-should-doj-target-next-benzinga-poll-finds-over-50-say">stocks on dips. </a>
What To Know: Corrections will occur and "I'd suggest that when that happens you find a way to add at least one, maybe two or three of these companies, because these are so much part of what drives the economy and the market," Damodaran said.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42300548/art-cashins-lessons-cuban-crisis-trades-to-timeless-wall-street-wit">Art Cashin&#8217;s Lessons: Cuban Crisis Trades To Timeless Wall Street Wit</a>
It has been difficult to buy the dip on a Magnificent Seven stock as the tech giants have climbed throughout 2024. The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#NASDAQ">MAGS</a>) offers equal-weight exposure to the Magnificent Seven stocks and is up nearly 60% year-to-date. 
"As a value investor, I have never seen cash machines as lucrative as these companies are," Damodaran said. "And I don't see the cash machine slowing down."
Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) continue jockeying for the top position as the largest company in terms of market capitalization. Apple currently holds the largest market cap at $3.67 trillion, while Nvidia is in second place with a market cap of $3.44 trillion. Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) remains in third with a market capitalization of $3.21 trillion. 
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), formerly the laggard of the seven, has gained more than 40% over the past month. CEO Elon Musk has grown into a trusted advisor of President-elect Donald Trump and investors are betting Tesla <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42283558/elon-musks-doge-co-lead-already-targeting-tesla-rivals-vivek-ramaswamy-flags-stellantis-75b-loan-days-after-criticizing-rivians-66b-loan">will benefit</a> under the Trump administration. 
Though not quite a dip, Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) shares have remained flat over the past month as the company faces ongoing litigation and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/42143421/staggering-google-breakup-proposal-from-doj-a-kitchen-sink-moment-alphabet-analyst">the potential sale</a> of its Chrome browser in a federal antitrust lawsuit. 
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42273676/walmart-target-bath-body-works-stand-out-as-black-friday-winners-analysts">Walmart, Target, Bath &amp; Body Works Stand Out As Black Friday Winners: Analysts</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Specialty ETFs

ETFs

MAGS

What's Going On With Magnificent 7 Stocks?

Gamers are spending more time watching gaming content than actually playing games, according to a new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/08/40403494/gaming-industry-shows-signs-of-recovery-in-2024-report">report.</a>
The study, conducted by Midia Research (<a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/new-report-claims-gamers-spend-more-time-watching-videos-about-gaming-than-playing-games">via</a> GamesIndustry.biz), reveals that gamers average 8.5 hours weekly watching game-related videos on platforms like Alphabet Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) YouTube and Twitch, compared to 7.4 hours actively gaming.
See Also: &#8216;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42297564/we-are-not-considering-elden-ring-2-says-fromsoftwares-miyazaki">We Are Not Considering Elden Ring 2,&#8217; Says FromSoftware&#8217;s Miyazaki</a>
This trend presents a significant revenue opportunity for game publishers, the report suggests.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">The Shift Toward Gaming Video Content</h1>
Midia&#8217;s findings show the growing dominance of video content in the gaming world. About 24% of console and PC players, along with 48% of &#8220;in-game buyers,&#8221; regularly consume game-related content, with the latter group identified as &#8220;high-spending gamers.&#8221; These numbers signal an untapped market within the gaming ecosystem.
According to Midia, game publishers are losing potential revenue to third-party platforms, particularly in advertising. This loss is significant at a time when the gaming industry faces challenges to sustain growth.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Reclaiming Engagement and Revenue</h1>
"It's time for game publishers to think about in-game video as something beyond marketing alone," said Rhys Elliott, games analyst at Midia Research. 
&#8221;By reclaiming video engagement, publishers have the potential to unlock new revenue streams, like advertising and drive growth,&#8221; he added.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/12/42270630/gta-6-fans-analyze-playlists-and-combat-ai-chaos-one-year-after-first-trailer">GTA 6 Fans Analyze Playlists And Combat AI Chaos, One Year After First Trailer</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Gamers Now Watch More Than They Play — How Publishers Can Reclaim Lost Revenue: Report

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) could commit&nbsp;to a $1 billion investment in Indonesia&nbsp;in a week, Reuters cites the country&#8217;s investment minister Rosan Roeslani on Tuesday.
Indonesia had banned the sale of iPhone 16 due to a violation of the country&#8217;s content rules that mandated a minimum of 40% locally sourced components for companies aiming to sell smartphones in the country.
Indonesia plans to&nbsp;raise&nbsp;the investment criteria, Reuters cites a deputy minister.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/42247515/meta-weighs-sole-ownership-of-a-10-billion-subsea-cable-project" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Weighs Sole Ownership Of A $10 Billion Subsea Cable Project</a>
In November, Indonesia rejected Apple&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42170518/apples-100-million-offer-rejected-as-indonesia-enforces-iphone-16-sales-ban" rel="noreferrer noopener">$100 million investment</a> offer to build an accessory and component plant, deeming it insufficient to lift the ban.
Apple has no manufacturing facilities in Indonesia. Indonesia expects more investment from Apple in return for its inclusion in the company&#8217;s supply chain, Reuters cites Roeslani in a hearing.
Previously, Indonesia barred Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) from selling its Google Pixel phones in the country for similar non-compliance.
Apple&#8217;s geographical diversification of its supply chain marks its attempts to reduce dependence on China due to the disruption following China&#8217;s pandemic in 2020 and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42265847/biden-targets-china-with-new-chip-restrictions-nvidia-slides" rel="noreferrer noopener">intensifying geopolitical tensions</a> with the U.S.
On Monday, the Biden administration launched its third semiconductor embargo on China, restricting Chinese chip equipment manufacturers from advanced memory chips and chipmaking tools, citing national security threats.
The iPhone company reported&nbsp;fiscal fourth-quarter revenue&nbsp;of $94.9 billion, topping analyst estimates of $94.56 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.64 surpassed forecasts of $1.60.
Bank of America flagged potential in Apple Intelligence, boosting iPhone <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42209622/apple-faces-modest-growth-as-idc-forecasts-smartphone-market-rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cycles and product demand</a>. Goldman Sachs also projected growth with iPhone 16 and Apple Intelligence.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Apple A Good Stock To Buy?</h2>
An investor can make a few decisions when deciding whether a stock is a good buy. In addition to valuation metrics and price action which you can find on Benzinga's quote pages &#8211; like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL">Apple</a>&#8216;s page for example &#8211; there are factors like whether or not a company pays a dividend or buys a large portion of its stock each quarter.
These are known as capital allocation programs. Apple does pay a dividend, which yields 0.5% per year as of the closing price on Dec. 3, 2024. Feel free to search Benzinga's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/dividends">dividend calendar</a> for the next company that is due to pay a dividend and determine what kind of yield you can earn for holding a share of the company.
For example, if you're looking to earn an annualized return of 13.81%, you'll need to buy a share of PIMCO Dynamic Income by the Dec. 12, 2024. Once done, you can expect to receive a nominal payout of $0.22 on Jan. 2, 2025.
Buyback programs are obviously different and highly variable. A company can approve a buyback program and purchase shares as it sees fit over the course of time in which the buyback was authorized. Looking through the latest news on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL">Apple</a> will often yield whether or not the company has approved a buyback program recently. Buyback programs usually serve as a support for share prices, serving as a backstop for demand.
Price Action: AAPL stock is up 0.56% at $240.94 at the last check on Tuesday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42244371/stellantis-to-suspend-production-of-fiat-500-ev-at-turin-plant-again-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stellantis To Suspend Production Of Fiat 500 EV At Turin Plant Again: What&#8217;s Going On?</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Apple

Government

Regulations

Media

Apple Might Have To Commit $1 Billion To Indonesia To Reverse iPhone 16 Ban

Ray Dalio-led hedge fund Bridgewater Associates sold its positions in the topmost AI-linked stock along with other big technology companies, while buying shares of other AI-linked companies in the third quarter of the current fiscal as per its 13F filings.
What Happened: Bridgewater pared its stake in Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), among other companies.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Jun. 30) (in million)</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Sept. 30) (in million)</td>
<td>Change (in million) </td>
<td>Stock Performance (YTD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia</td>
<td>6.556</td>
<td>4.754</td>
<td>-1.8</td>
<td>188%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet </td>
<td>4.54</td>
<td>4.37</td>
<td>-0.17</td>
<td>24%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft</td>
<td>1.09</td>
<td>0.870</td>
<td>-0.22</td>
<td>16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon</td>
<td>2.64</td>
<td>1.41</td>
<td>-1.23</td>
<td>41%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Johnson &amp; Johnson</td>
<td>3.204</td>
<td>1.470</td>
<td>-1.73</td>
<td>-3.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42282948/ubs-forecasts-sp-500-to-hit-6600-in-2025-citing-support-from-over-easy-global-central-bank-policy">UBS Forecasts S&amp;P 500 To Hit 6,600 In 2025, Citing Support From &#8216;Over-Easy Global Central Bank Policy&#8217;</a>
On the other hand, the hedge fund bought Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) along with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>).
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Jun. 30) (in million)</td>
<td>Holdings (as of Sept. 30) (in million)</td>
<td>Change (in million)</td>
<td>Stock Performance (YTD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broadcom </td>
<td>0.024</td>
<td>0.955</td>
<td>0.931</td>
<td>53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple</td>
<td>0.469</td>
<td>1.031</td>
<td>0.562</td>
<td>29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer</td>
<td>0.015</td>
<td>0.161</td>
<td>0.146</td>
<td>47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies</td>
<td>0.086</td>
<td>0.523</td>
<td>0.437</td>
<td>300%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Advanced Micro Devices</td>
<td>1.099</td>
<td>1.464</td>
<td>0.365</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Big tech saw heavy selling at Bridgewater in the third quarter, while it increased its stake in companies like Broadcom by 3,806% to a total value of $164.81 million.
Bridgewater sold 27% or 1.8 million shares of Nvidia reducing its value in its portfolio by $232.59 million. It also sold $100.697 million worth of Google-parent Alphabet&#8217;s stock.
The hedge fund further sold 220.169 million shares of Microsoft and 1.233 million shares of Amazon.
In the same period, Bridgewater increased its stake in Super Micro Computer by 921%, Palantir Tech by 507%, and Advanced Micro Devices by 35%.
The hedge fund founded by Ray Dalio held 1.031 million shares of Apple worth $240.4 million. It also added $92.62 million worth of SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF increasing the holding by 18% in the exchange-traded fund.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42283257/charles-schwab-goldman-sachs-invesco-add-mara-holdings-morgan-stanley-cuts-stake-here-is-what-changed-with-mara-holdings-in-q3">Charles Schwab, Goldman Sachs Boosts MARA Stake As Stock Rallies 30% In Past 6 Months: Morgan Stanley, Other Major Funds Trim Positions In Q3</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: World Economic Forum On Flickr

Hedge Funds

AVGO

PLTR

SMCI

Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Adds Broadcom, Apple, SMCI In Q3, While Offloading Stake In AI Giant Nvidia And Other Big Tech Companies

ARK Invest said in November that artificial intelligence-powered digital wallets could revolutionize e-commerce, potentially driving nearly $9 trillion in global online spending by 2030 through the integration of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/retail-sales/24/12/42257325/ai-revolutionizes-black-friday-shopping-as-online-sales-reach-new-heights">Large Language Models into payment platforms</a>.
What Happened: The Cathie Wood-led firm&#8217;s latest research suggests that AI &#8220;purchasing agents&#8221; embedded in digital wallets like Shopify Inc&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NYSE">SHOP</a>) Shop Pay, Cash App owned by Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and Apple Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) Apple Pay could transform the traditional one-click checkout into a streamlined one-query purchase experience.
This development comes as major tech companies, including Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), are rapidly advancing their AI shopping capabilities.
ARK&#8217;s research suggests AI purchasing agents could disrupt Google and Amazon&#8217;s dominance by automating product comparisons and purchase decisions, reducing reliance on search engines and marketplaces.
Klarna&#8216;s integration with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) backed OpenAI technology demonstrates early adoption of this trend, with its shopping assistant combining search and aggregation based on user preferences.
&#8220;Digital wallets helmed by purchasing agents could increase their share of global e-commerce purchase volume from 50% in 2023 to 72% by 2030,&#8221; according to Ark Invest&#8217;s analysis. 
The firm projects that if 10% of global AI agent spending occurs through digital wallets with a 5% lead generation fee, these AI purchasing agents could generate $43 billion for digital wallet providers.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42281825/tom-lee-predicts-sp-500-to-hit-6300-bitcoin-to-surpass-100k-by-year-end-says-trump-carrying-a-big-stick-can-be-effective">Tom Lee Predicts S&amp;P 500 To Reach 6,300, Bitcoin To Break $100K By Year-End, Says Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Can Be Effective &#8216;Negotiating Tools&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Recent market developments support this trajectory. Amazon&#8217;s AI shopping assistant Rufus, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39755563/amazon-expands-ai-shopping-assistant-rufus-to-all-us-customers-as-prime-day-approaches">launched nationwide in July</a>, has already demonstrated the potential of AI in e-commerce by helping customers with product details, recommendations, and comparisons. 
Meanwhile, Google&#8217;s reported development of &#8220;Project Jarvis,&#8221; an AI system designed to handle shopping and travel bookings, suggests <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41562574/google-is-working-on-an-ai-system-named-jarvis-to-handle-your-search-shopping-and-flight-booking-nee">growing competition in this space</a>.
The impact of AI on e-commerce was particularly evident during Black Friday 2024, when online sales reached $10.8 billion, marking a 10.2% increase from 2023. Retailers using AI chatbots saw a 1,800% increase in website traffic and a 9% higher conversion rate compared to those without AI integration, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/retail-sales/24/12/42257325/ai-revolutionizes-black-friday-shopping-as-online-sales-reach-new-heights">according to Salesforce data</a>.
Ark Invest emphasizes that success in this space will require digital wallet providers to balance personalization with user privacy and trust. The firm suggests that similar to credit card rewards programs which distributed $40 billion in rewards in 2022, digital wallets will need to offer compelling incentives to drive adoption.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42281410/cathie-wood-slams-delaware-judge-as-activist-over-elon-musks-56b-pay-plan-block-tesla-warns-of-shareholder-rights-crisis-amid-appeal">Cathie Wood Slams Delaware Judge As &#8216;Activist&#8217; Over Elon Musk&#8217;s $56B Pay Plan Block, Tesla Warns Of Shareholder Rights Crisis Amid Appeal</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

SHOP

Cathie Wood-Led Ark's Prediction: AI Will Turn Digital Wallets Into $9 Trillion E-Commerce Powerhouses — Google, Amazon Dominance Set For Disruption?

The Amazon Web Services re:Invent conference kicks off Monday in Las Vegas, bringing fresh updates on cloud <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">computing and artificial intelligence.</a>
Ahead of the event, Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon.com Inc's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) cloud unit, described AI as a transformative force with endless potential, stating at the WSJ Tech Live conference in October, &#8220;It is a transformational technology that is going to change every single company, every single job, every single workflow out there.&#8221;
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42263396/baidu-takes-on-tesla-testing-self-driving-tech-in-hong-kongs-streets" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baidu Takes on Tesla, Secures License To Test Self-Driving Tech in Hong Kong</a>
The conference marks Garman&#8217;s first keynote since assuming his role in June. He plans to unveil &#8220;real, needle-moving changes&#8221; in AI, computing, and other vital areas, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-web-services-ceo-promises-needle-moving-ai-updates-13d430e0?mod=tech_lead_story" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>. These advancements are critical as AWS faces mounting pressure from competitors like Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>).
According to Gartner, Amazon has seen its global cloud market share dip slightly, falling to 39% in 2023 from 39.9% in 2022. Meanwhile, rivals Microsoft and Google have gained traction, with respective market shares increasing to 23% and 8.2% during the same period. Garman acknowledged this competitive environment but stressed AWS&#8217;s role as a platform offering diverse AI models, likening its approach to &#8220;a bit of everything for everyone.&#8221;
Amazon recently doubled its investment in the AI startup Anthropic to $8 billion, signaling its commitment to staying at the forefront of AI development. The collaboration will leverage AWS&#8217;s Trainium chips, which Garman claims are cost-effective solutions for training AI models.
Bank of America Securities analyst Justin Post deems the expanded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42176396/amazon-anthropic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnership mutually beneficial</a> for the companies. Amazon gains a strong AI partner to help maintain the AI moat, and Anthropic gains more capital. Post also expects the co-development of Amazon&#8217;s Trainium chip capabilities could accelerate progress and build credibility for the chips.
Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik considers Amazon a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41737293/amazon-stock-buy-now-pay-off-later-says-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">substantial investment opportunity</a>. Despite planned increases in infrastructure spending next year, Shmulik emphasizes Amazon&#8217;s ability to generate returns on such investments, particularly in areas like Prime Video.
Shmulik told Yahoo Finance, &#8220;Amazon feels like the name that you can put money to work in and get excited about,&#8221; highlighting AWS revenue showing momentum heading into the fourth quarter, Prime Video investments, and more.
In July, JMP Securities&#8216;&nbsp;Nicholas Jones flagged AWS gaining ground as Microsoft Azure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/40076014/amazons-aws-growth-expected-to-outpace-microsoft-azure-analyst-optimistic">grappled with softness</a> in some European geographies and capacity constraints.
Investors can gain exposure to Amazon through ProShares Online Retail ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONLN#NYSE">ONLN</a>) and SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Consumer Discretionary (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>).
Price Action: AMZN stock is up 2% at $212.08 at last check Monday.
Also Read:
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Photo by Sundry Photography via Shutterstock

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