Google (GOOG.O) surpassed Apple (AAPL.O) in market capitalization for the first time since 2019. At the close of trading on Wednesday, Google’s market cap stood at $3.88 trillion, while Apple’s was $3.84 trillion.The reversal in market capitalization rankings highlights the divergence in AI strategy between Google and Apple. Google ended 2025 as one of Wall Street’s top-performing tech stocks; in November, the company unveiled its seventh-generation Tensor processor, Ironwood, a custom AI chip poised to become an alternative to NVIDIA products.In December, Google’s launch of Gemini 3 received widespread acclaim from the industry. Meanwhile, Apple has largely been absent from the AI race that began when OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022. Apple had originally planned to launch a new generation of its Siri AI assistant last year but ultimately delayed the release.This week, Wall Street investment bank RJP downrated Apple, stating that the company will struggle to achieve growth in 2026.