Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesGetty ImagesDespite robust performance during the first two quarters, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) stock has risen only 5% this year, trailing behind the S&P 500's 9% growth. A significant reason for this underperformance is the ongoing lawsuit that might compel Google to divest certain assets. Recently, the undervalued offer from Perplexity AI for Google Chrome is substantially under its actual worth.So, is this the right moment to invest in GOOG stock, which is currentl ...

Core Viewpoint - OpenAI's recent launch of GPT-5 has been publicly acknowledged as a failure by CEO Sam Altman, who admitted that the promotion and rollout were mishandled [2][17]. Group 1: GPT-5 Launch Issues - The launch of GPT-5 faced significant backlash from users, who felt that the model did not meet expectations for achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) [7][8]. - Users criticized GPT-5 for its cold personality, with some comparing interactions to conversing with an exhausted individual, leading to dissatisfaction after the removal of the more user-friendly GPT-4o [13][15][16]. - Altman recognized the mistake in upgrading millions of users simultaneously and emphasized the importance of avoiding unhealthy relationships between AI and users [19][18]. Group 2: Future Plans and Investments - OpenAI plans to invest tens of trillions of dollars in building data centers to support the anticipated daily usage of ChatGPT by billions of users [4][21]. - The company aims to position ChatGPT as the third-largest website globally, following Google and YouTube, by enhancing its infrastructure [22]. - OpenAI is also funding a new venture, Merge Labs, focused on brain-computer interface technology, which directly competes with Elon Musk's Neuralink [25][26]. Group 3: Industry Insights - Altman expressed concerns about a potential AI bubble, agreeing that there is excessive excitement among investors regarding AI technologies [29][30]. - Despite acknowledging the bubble, he affirmed the long-term significance of AI as a transformative technology [31].

Core Viewpoint - Perplexity has made a surprising offer to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion, despite being valued at only $18 billion, but it is unlikely that Alphabet will consider selling it due to its importance in the company's ecosystem and ongoing legal challenges regarding its monopoly status [1][2][4]. Group 1: Offer Details - Perplexity's offer of $34.5 billion for Google Chrome is significant, but it is not expected to be sufficient for Alphabet to consider selling [2][4]. - The offer comes in the context of a federal court ruling that Google is operating an illegal monopoly in the advertising space, which has led to discussions about potential remedies, including the sale of Google Chrome [4][5]. Group 2: Alphabet's Position - Alphabet has not shown any interest in selling Google Chrome, and its legal team argues that such a sale could have national security implications [6]. - Google Chrome is crucial for Alphabet's data collection for advertising, making it unlikely that the company would sell it unless all other options are exhausted [7][9]. Group 3: Potential Market Reactions - The offer from Perplexity may trigger a bidding war, with other generative AI companies, such as OpenAI, likely to follow suit with their own offers [7][8]. - If Alphabet were to accept a buyout offer, it would suggest that the company has a replacement browser ready, as it would not easily relinquish its significant advantages in data collection and search engine dominance [9][10].

Perplexity's $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome comes as a judge considers forcing Google to spin off Chrome after it was ruled to have held a monopoly over online advertising technology. (Photo: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)https://t.co/0MVDes32wX https://t.co/wJov013XQ4 ...

Core Insights - Affirm is launching two integrations to enhance its buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, strengthening partnerships with Google and Stripe [1][4] - The integration with Google Chrome allows U.S. shoppers to select Affirm directly from the browser's autofill menu at checkout, facilitating easier access to installment payment plans [2][3] - The integration with Stripe Terminal enables in-store shoppers to scan a QR code for financing options, with repayment terms ranging from 30 days to 60 months [4] Integration with Google - Affirm's integration with Google Chrome's autofill menu allows eligible consumers to choose biweekly or monthly payment plans for purchases between $35 and $30,000 [3] - This feature requires no additional setup for merchants and will be automatically activated on select sites, aiming to make the payment process more seamless [3] Integration with Stripe - Affirm becomes the first BNPL provider to integrate with Stripe Terminal, allowing consumers to apply for financing in participating stores by scanning a QR code [4] - This integration is expected to help merchants drive growth and meet customer needs more effectively [4] Consumer Behavior Insights - Research indicates that nearly three-quarters of consumers' last non-grocery retail purchases were made in person, highlighting the importance of in-store payment options [5] - BNPL services influence consumer purchasing behavior, with many users delaying purchases or opting for cheaper items if BNPL is unavailable [6] - A significant portion of consumers relies on BNPL out of necessity, often linked to their income levels [6] Recent Partnerships - Affirm has been actively forming partnerships to boost adoption, including a recent collaboration with Shopmonkey for car repair shops and an expansion of its partnership with travel search engine Kayak [7]

Perplexity's $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome comes as a judge considers forcing Google to spin off Chrome after it was ruled to have held a monopoly over online advertising technology. (Photo: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)https://t.co/lE17Gheybx https://t.co/WwoxUwAdbi ...

Forbes Daily: Perplexity’s Bold $34.5 Billion Bid For Google Chromehttps://t.co/60npN7J0bi https://t.co/O1dfHgLlhp ...

Well, Perplexity making an unsolicited offer for Google Chrome as the AI startup looks to make a breakthrough in web uh search. The $ 34.5% billion bid is nearly double Perplexity's own $18 billion valuation. It also puts Apple's AI strategy back in the spotlight with earlier reports saying the iPhone maker explored an acquisition of Perplexity itself.For more on the potential deal, let's bring in Neil Patel, editor-inchief of The Verge and host of the Decoder podcast. Neil, great to have you with us. >> Th ...

We have some breaking news crossing the Bloomberg terminal. Perplexity says that they've made an unsolicited bid to Google today, offering $34.5% billion to purchase its Chrome browser. I'm going to repeat that.Perplexity has sent says it sent an unsolicited bid to Google this Tuesday. $34.5% billion for the Google Chrome browser. That's a significant and interesting piece of news.We're going to get the shares of Alphabet, the parent of Google up very soon, and we're going to talk to Bloomberg Fisherman, wh ...

About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government ...