Apple Gains From Google’s Antitrust Relief

In the world of Big Tech, sometimes one company’s courtroom victory becomes another company’s financial windfall. That was the case this week when Apple’s stock jumped nearly 4% after a U.S. judge issued a lenient remedy for Google’s antitrust violations in the internet search market.

For Apple, the decision protects a highly lucrative arrangement: the roughly $20 billion a year Google pays to remain the default search engine on Safari and other Apple devices. For Google, the ruling avoided the nightmare scenario of being forced to split off its Chrome browser or face deeper structural penalties.

The Background: Google’s Search Monopoly Case

The U.S. Department of Justice successfully argued last year that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search. At the heart of the case was the company’s practice of paying billions to device makers and browser developers—Apple included—to secure default search placement.

While critics pushed for drastic remedies, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta instead required Google and Apple to adjust the terms of their deal. Google can continue paying Apple for default status but cannot remain the exclusive search provider.

This subtle distinction means that while competitors may get a chance to strike deals with Apple in the future, the partnership between Google and Apple remains intact—at least for now.

Why the Judge Went Soft on Google

The ruling reflects how fast the search industry is evolving. Judge Mehta noted that the rise of generative AI tools has put new players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity AI in a position to challenge Google in ways traditional search companies couldn’t.

The court also warned that blocking such agreements would unfairly strip companies like Apple of a major revenue source without significantly reducing Google’s dominance. In other words, the remedies had to balance competition concerns with economic realities.

A Data Sharing Twist

While Google avoided a breakup, it isn’t walking away untouched. The company will be required to provide competitors with search query data snapshots at marginal cost. This dataset could, in theory, help rivals build better search engines.

However, Google won’t have to share advertising data—the real crown jewel of its business. As experts point out, search data alone offers limited competitive advantage without the ad insights that drive Google’s massive profits.

Apple’s Next Move: Building Its Own Search Engine

Interestingly, Apple may not always rely on Google’s checks. Reports suggest the company is developing an AI-powered search engine that could debut as soon as next year. This project reportedly uses some Google technology under a fresh partnership, further cementing the “open but strong” relationship between the two firms.

Even if Apple eventually launches a rival to Google Search, the ruling ensures that, for now, both companies continue to benefit from their long-standing collaboration.

North Korean Hackers Misuse ChatGPT for Fake Military IDs

A new cybersecurity report has uncovered that a suspected North Korean hacking group used ChatGPT to generate a deepfake version of a South Korean military ID card. The fake identification was reportedly deployed in phishing attempts designed to look more credible, tricking recipients into downloading malware that could steal sensitive information.

The group, known as Kimsuky, has long been linked to espionage campaigns targeting South Korean institutions. U.S. Homeland Security officials have also identified the group as part of North Korea’s broader strategy to collect global intelligence and bypass international sanctions.

How the AI Exploit Worked

According to researchers at South Korean cybersecurity firm Genians, the hackers manipulated ChatGPT into bypassing restrictions against creating government IDs. By tweaking their prompts, they were able to exploit the system and generate fraudulent documents.

Mun Chong-hyun, director at Genians, explained that this is part of a broader pattern: cybercriminals are now using AI to streamline their operations — from planning attacks and writing malicious code to impersonating legitimate recruiters online.

Growing Trend: Hackers Turning to AI

This incident isn’t isolated. In recent months, cybersecurity experts have flagged multiple examples of AI misuse linked to North Korean actors:

• Fake identities for job scams: Reports suggest hackers used Anthropic’s Claude Code AI tool to help secure remote jobs at U.S. Fortune 500 companies. The system reportedly assisted in generating resumes, cover letters, and even completing technical tasks once hired.
• Recruitment impersonation: Earlier this year, researchers found AI-generated resumes and social media content being used to impersonate recruiters.
• Phishing attacks: Emails targeting South Korean journalists, researchers, and human rights activists were disguised with domains that looked like official military addresses, raising the risk of successful breaches.

Why It Matters

North Korea has already been accused of cryptocurrency theft, IT contracting fraud, and cyber-espionage operations to generate revenue and support its nuclear program. The integration of AI-driven tools into these schemes marks a dangerous evolution, making scams more convincing and attacks more efficient.

Cybersecurity experts stress that governments and tech companies must work together to improve safeguards against AI misuse while raising awareness among potential targets of phishing campaigns.

Alphabet Hits $3 Trillion Market Cap

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has officially become the fourth publicly traded company to cross the $3 trillion valuation milestone. The elite club already includes Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia, and now Alphabet joins their ranks after a surge in its stock price.

On Monday, September 15, Alphabet’s shares jumped more than 4% to $251.22, pushing its market capitalization just past the $3 trillion mark. This achievement highlights the company’s continued dominance in search, advertising, and increasingly, artificial intelligence.

What Drove Alphabet’s Stock Surge?

Alphabet’s stock has been on an impressive run in 2025, climbing more than 70% since April and adding nearly $1.2 trillion in value during that period. A key catalyst was a favorable antitrust ruling from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta earlier this month.

The ruling rejected calls by the U.S. Department of Justice to force Google to sell its Chrome browser and Android operating system, both central to its business. Instead, the court ruled that regulators had “overreached” in their demands, noting that the rise of new AI players such as OpenAI has already reshaped the competitive landscape.

This lighter-than-expected decision reassured investors, leading to a rally that boosted Alphabet’s market cap by more than $230 billion in just four days.

Nearly Two Decades in the Making

Google’s journey to the $3 trillion mark has been two decades in the making:

• 2004: Google went public with its IPO.
• 2015: Alphabet was created as Google’s parent company.
• 2025: Alphabet breaks into the $3 trillion club.

The milestone demonstrates how Google evolved from a simple search engine into a tech powerhouse spanning search, cloud services, YouTube, Android, and AI-driven innovation.

The Bigger Picture

Alphabet’s milestone also signals broader market confidence in Big Tech despite regulatory pressures. With Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and now Alphabet all above the $3 trillion threshold, investors are betting on tech companies that dominate both hardware and software in the age of artificial intelligence.