Alphabet Reports $90B Revenue, YouTube Ads Rise 10%

Alphabet, Google's parent company, reported strong first quarter results for 2025, exceeding Wall Street expectations with total revenue surpassing $90 billion and net income rising by over 45%. YouTube played a significant role in this performance, contributing close to $9 billion in ad revenue for the quarter and accounting for over 10% of Alphabet's total earnings, aided by both brand and direct response advertising. The tech giant highlighted growth across its digital advertising business, Google Search, and Google Cloud, with paid subscriptions exceeding 270 million, bolstered by YouTube and Google One. Alphabet attributed part of its growth to advances in artificial intelligence, notably the launch of its Gemini 2.5 model, which underpins many of its products. Despite the positive financial results, Alphabet faces regulatory challenges, including a recent federal court ruling that found its ad tech business constituted an illegal monopoly, a decision the company intends to appeal. YouTube also marked its 20th anniversary, reporting more than 20 billion videos uploaded and continuing to outpace traditional media in viewership, accounting for 12% of all TV usage in March 2025.