Khaberni - The beginning of this year witnesses a major shift in the ranking of the technology giants, according to the latest market data in January, Alphabet (Alphabet) succeeded in surpassing Apple (Apple), settling in the second spot globally in terms of market value, behind Nvidia (Nvidia) which still dominates the scene.
Data recorded up until January 8, 2026 shows that Alphabet's market value reached about $3.89 trillion, while Apple dropped to a value of about $3.85 trillion, and Nvidia remains enthroned with a value exceeding $4.5 trillion.
Reasons for Alphabet's strong rise
Observers believe Apple's decline came following a series of losses spanning six days that erased nearly 5% of its market value, equating to about $200 billion.
Moreover, the launch of the latest artificial intelligence model, "Gemini 3," at the end of 2025 garnered immense acclaim, dispelling investors' fears of competition from "Open AI".
Google also succeeded in developing its own AI chips, which reduced its dependency on external suppliers, thereby increasing its profit margins.
The growth of "Google Cloud" by more than 30% also contributed to the company's success due to the increasing demand for AI tools for enterprises. Moreover, "Waymo" autonomous vehicles began achieving tangible commercial returns after expanding into several major U.S. cities.
Challenges faced by Apple
On the other hand, observers note that Apple faced significant pressures due to a slowdown in AI innovation, while analysts believe the company was slower than its rivals in integrating generative AI technologies into its devices in a groundbreaking manner.
Additionally, sales concerns formed a major hurdle for Apple, especially when it clearly expressed concerns about the pace of iPhone sales that declined in key global markets.
Also, the administrative changes the company is undergoing, entering a transitional period, contributed to increasing reports about the departure of leadership figures, coinciding with succession plans for "Tim Cook".
Based on these changes, analysts and observers say we are currently living in an "era of harvesting" for AI companies, as the promises and innovations are turning into actual figures in balance sheets, giving Google the historic advantage we witness today.
