Opens in a new tab

Breaking news

Tech Titans Accelerate AI Investment Amid Rising Capex Demands

Alphabet and Meta Platforms reported earnings showing stronger growth, while market reactions moved in opposite directions. Alphabet shares rose by 7% in after-hours trading, while Meta shares declined by 7%. The difference reflects how investors are assessing AI-related spending and revenue models.

Impressive Earnings With Divergent Outcomes

Both companies increased capital expenditure forecasts as investment in artificial intelligence expands. Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer of Alphabet, raised 2026 capex guidance to $180 billion–$190 billion. In parallel, Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer of Meta, increased the company’s forecast to $125 billion–$145 billion, citing higher infrastructure and component costs.

Strategies Shaped By Cloud Infrastructure

Alphabet continues to generate revenue from cloud services alongside AI development. Cloud revenue increased by 63%, supported by a backlog of approximately $460 billion. This model allows the company to link infrastructure investment with revenue growth, alongside offerings that include internally developed processing units. Peers such as Microsoft and Amazon follow a similar structure.

Defending Heavy Investments In AI

Meta’s approach differs due to the absence of a large cloud business. Investment is linked more directly to advertising performance and user engagement. During the earnings call, Zuckerberg referred to improvements in engagement and advertiser outcomes, alongside the rollout of products such as the Muse Spark model.

The Road Ahead

Meta’s share performance has trailed some peers, while its investment focus includes custom silicon developed with Broadcom and additional use of chips from AMD alongside systems based on Nvidia technology. These investments are tied to expanding AI infrastructure and supporting internal workloads. At the same time, Alphabet continues to scale its AI infrastructure, with Sundar Pichai noting increased demand for both GPU and TPU capacity during the latest earnings call. Market reactions reflect differences in how these approaches are evaluated, particularly in relation to revenue generation from cloud services and advertising models.

Web Summit 2026 Brings 70,000 Participants From 164 Countries To Lisbon

Around 70,000 people from 164 countries attended this year’s Web Summit in Lisbon, with China sending its largest delegation to the event so far. More than 50 representatives from the country’s artificial intelligence and robotics sectors took part, reflecting China’s growing presence in technologies reshaping manufacturing and services.

Founded in Dublin in 2009, Web Summit moved to Lisbon in 2016 and has since developed into one of Europe’s major technology conferences. The event brings together start-ups, investors and industry leaders, providing a platform for companies to present new technologies and explore business opportunities.

This year’s gathering also highlighted China’s expanding influence in the global technology industry, a trend noted by Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave.

Storm Charles Interrupts Conference Programme

The summit’s schedule was disrupted on November 11, when Storm Charles forced organisers to cancel activities for the day. The programme resumed on November 12, allowing the event to conclude as planned.

Despite the interruption, this year’s Web Summit highlighted several key developments shaping the technology sector, including advances in robotics and automation, intensifying international competition and continued demand for platforms connecting businesses with investors.

For Lisbon, the conference remains an important international technology gathering, bringing together companies and decision-makers while showcasing innovations moving towards commercial application.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
Aretilaw firm
eCredo
Uol

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter