Google parent Alphabet reported first-quarter revenue and profit that exceeded analysts’ expectations, buoyed by continued strength in its search advertising business. First-quarter sales, excluding partner payouts, were $76.5 billion, the company said Thursday in a statement. Analysts had expected $75.4 billion on average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Net income was $2.81 per share, compared with Wall Street’s estimate of $2.01.The shares, which have declined 16% so far this year, rose more than 3.5% in extended trading following the report. Alphabet needs to ensure momentum in its internet search advertising and cloud businesses in order to justify its heightened investment in the artificial intelligence race. Competition is prompting the company and its rivals to spend heavily on infrastructure, research and talent. While Google benefits from AI startups spending on its cloud and business tools, it’s also racing to present an answer to popular conversational AI chatbots, which consumers are beginning to think of as an alternative to using Google Search. For instant reaction and analysis, hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec speak with: Mark Douglas, MNTN President and CEO Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Tech Industry Analyst Mandeep Singh See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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