Alphabet (Google)

THINKING ALOUD

The rose-tinted inevitability of smart glasses

I laughed at them in 2013; I might buy a pair in 2026

On Feb 9, Google parent Alphabet raised US$20 billion in a seven-part US dollar debt sale, exceeding earlier expectations of a US$15 billion deal.

Alphabet seeks US$9.4 billion from sterling, Swiss franc bond sales

This is because its capex may reach US$185 billion in 2026 to finance its ambitions in artificial intelligence

The Google parent is set to raise US$20 billion from a US dollar bond offering on Monday.

Alphabet embarks on global bond spree to fund record spending

Other big tech companies are ramping up their spending too

You can now add The Business Times as a preferred news source on Google.

Set The Business Times as your preferred news source on Google

Doing this will tell Google to show more BT stories in your search results

Google’s fresh conviction about AI-fuelled revenue is backed by growth in both its consumer and enterprise businesses.

Google goes from laggard to leader as it pulls ahead of OpenAI with stellar AI growth

Alphabet’s potentially to double its capital expenditures in 2026 – to between US$175 billion and US$185 billion

Alphabet currently employs around 14,000 in the country, out of a global workforce of roughly 190,000.

Alphabet plots big expansion in India as US restricts visas

Google rivals have recently set up shop in the country

Waymo operates fully autonomous ride-hailing, without a human safety monitor, and charges a fare for passengers in half a dozen US cities.

Waymo seeking about US$16 billion near US$110 billion valuation

The startup plans to aggressively expand the commercial service this year to many more American cities, as well as to the UK

Google has long faced criticism from its rivals who say its market power gives it an unfair advantage, and is looking to the EU’s Digital Markets Act to give it a leg up.

Google troubled by EU move to help AI, search rivals access services

It has concerns that further rules will compromise user privacy, security and innovation

For Sarath Ratanavadi, the move highlights ambitions to build a digital ecosystem across energy, virtual banking, telecoms and data services.

Thai billionaire Sarath deepens bet on AI in Google tie-up

Gulf Edge signs a strategic framework agreement with Google to provide AI infrastructure services