$GOOG

Google plans to launch a prototype satellite next week to test AI chips in space as part of Project Suncatcher. The mission, in partnership with SpaceX and Planet Labs, will assess the chips' performance in low Earth orbit. Google aims to gather data and identify potential failure points, with commercial viability still years away. The project targets 2027 for testing high-bandwidth laser links for future computing clusters.

Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta (META) are investing heavily in AI. Alphabet has a $514B cloud backlog and raised its 2026 capital spending plan to $195B-$205B, increasing debt. Meta's revenue grew 28% YoY, with AI models boosting ad performance. Meta's 2026 spending is $130B-$145B. Alphabet trades at 13.5x EBIT, including investment gains, while Meta is at 16.4x.

Michael Burry warns about $3 trillion in off-balance-sheet AI commitments by Big Tech companies, including Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Oracle. These liabilities, not reflected on balance sheets, could pose financial risks if miscalculated. Alphabet leads with $811 billion in planned spending. Burry also expresses concerns about AI hardware evolution outpacing data center infrastructure.

Tigress Financial raised Alphabet's (GOOGL) price target to $485 from $415, citing AI-driven growth in Search, Cloud, and YouTube. Q2 revenue grew 17% YoY for Search and 82% for Cloud. The firm maintains a Buy rating, highlighting Alphabet's AI investments and financial flexibility. Risks include high capital expenditures and competition. Hedge funds increased holdings, with Berkshire Hathaway and Fisher Asset Management raising stakes.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the EU Kids Act, restricting social media access for under 13s and requiring platforms to prove age-appropriate safety. The proposal is under review by the European Parliament and Council. Affected companies include Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Pinterest, Reddit, and Snap.

Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures declined early Thursday due to elevated Treasury yields and anticipation of the Trump-Xi meeting. The 10-year Treasury yield hit a 20-year high, increasing Fed rate hike expectations. Meta (META) shares fell over 1% after announcing new VR glasses and AI devices, while Unity (U) rose 5%. Alphabet (GOOGL) is in focus with its Gemini 4 AI model launch. Snap (SNAP) shares dropped nearly 2% due to competition from Meta's smart glasses.

Alphabet's Google launched Gemini Robotics ER 2, an AI model for robots to plan and adapt tasks in real time. The model integrates with Google Search and works across multiple robot types. Alphabet's Class A shares were down over 1% in Thursday's morning trade. The company is investing heavily in AI, with a Q2 capital expenditure forecast of $195B-$205B. Other tech firms like Nvidia, Tesla, and Amazon are also advancing in physical AI and robotics.

Alphabet (GOOGL) shares rose 0.6% overnight after a 3.8% drop, driven by competition from Meta's Muse AI. DeepMind chief Koray Kavukcuoglu announced Gemini 4 is in early post-training and may launch sooner than expected. Investors are watching AI competition and Google's response.

Alphabet (GOOGL) and Experian have partnered to integrate Experian's personal finance features into Google Gemini AI for U.S. users, offering conversational credit insights. This collaboration aims to deepen user engagement and broaden commercial use cases, though it also raises privacy concerns. Alphabet's broader AI strategy and potential regulatory risks are discussed.

A report by ITU and WBA found that 50 largest digital companies generated 92% of sector's operational emissions in 2024, with top 10 emitting 163M tCO2e. Amazon led with 35M tCO2e, followed by China Mobile. US and Chinese firms dominated emissions and electricity use, with East Asia lagging in renewable energy adoption.