Alphabet Inc. Faces Significant Stock Drop Amid Antitrust Trial

On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc. experienced a sharp decline in its shares, dropping more than 7% during the Google LLC antitrust trial. This downturn coincided with Apple Inc. executives' testimony, where they disclosed their plans concerning the development of AI-powered search options, potentially challenging Google's dominance in the search engine market.

Apple Explores AI Search Alternatives

Apple, traditionally reliant on Google's search engine for its Safari web browser, announced it is "actively" pursuing artificial intelligence (AI) search solutions. The tech giant has initiated discussions with several AI-focused companies, including OpenAI, Perplexity, DeepSeek, and Grok, to explore innovative search technologies that could redefine user experiences.

Market Reaction to Alphabet's Stock Performance

By 11:51 am ET, Alphabet's Class A shares had fallen by 7.20% to $151.52 each, while Class C shares saw a 7.12% decrease, trading at $153.22. This significant drop highlights the market's sensitivity to potential shifts in the search engine landscape and the competitive threats posed by Apple's AI search initiatives.