Alphabet Inc. enters 2026 facing significant regulatory overhauls taking effect in January, including court-ordered bans on exclusive search defaults and a data-sharing mandate, as reported by Chronicle Journal on December 30, 2025. To counter these pressures and bolster its AI ambitions, Alphabet acquired Intersect Power for $4.75 billion in December 2025 to secure reliable energy for its data centers (Barchart, Dec 29, 2025). The company also continues its strategic pivot towards "Agentic AI" with Gemini 3.0.
Alphabet Confronts 2026 Regulatory Shifts Amid AI and Infrastructure Plays