As the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the contours of the tech industry, a long-standing rivalry gains a new edge. Microsoft, buoyed by burgeoning interest in AI, momentarily eclipsed Apple to become the world’s most valuable company. This shift in market dominance, however, was transient as Apple soon reclaimed its top spot, underscoring the dynamic nature of the tech giants' competition.
The surge in Microsoft's shares, which saw an approximate 1% increase in pre-market trading, propelling the company's market value to $2.87 trillion, was largely attributed to investor enthusiasm surrounding its role as the principal backer of OpenAI, the creator of the popular AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT. This investor confidence reflects Microsoft's pioneering efforts in integrating AI chatbots into search and workplace products, further solidifying its position as a key player in AI and cloud hosting.
In contrast, Apple faced headwinds, particularly due to weakening iPhone sales in China, prompting Wall Street analysts to lower their target prices for the company in the early days of 2024. Despite these challenges, Apple's market value briefly surpassed Microsoft's, reaching $2.89 trillion amidst a general market downturn.
Tracing back to the 1980s, the Apple-Microsoft rivalry has been a cornerstone of the tech world. It began with accusations from Apple against Microsoft of copying the “look and feel” of its Macintosh computer software, leading to a series of legal battles. However, the tables turned with the success of the iPhone, allowing Apple to overtake Microsoft in market value in 2010, a position it maintained for several years.
The COVID-19 pandemic marked another inflection point in this rivalry. As remote work surged, Microsoft's strengths in cloud computing allowed it to temporarily overtake Apple in 2020 and 2021. However, Apple's resilience was evident as it quickly regained its leading position.
Looking ahead, Apple is poised to usher in an era of "spatial computing" with its upcoming Vision Pro headphones, boasting rich 3D graphics and new types of hand gestures. Despite hints of developing large language models for AI chatbots in its own devices, Apple's focus contrasts sharply with Microsoft's AI-driven approach. The success of ChatGPT and the rush to compete in this domain have increased demand for Microsoft's cloud services and necessary Nvidia processors.
This AI-centric shift has also stirred the rankings of the world’s largest companies. Nvidia, a key player in AI chip manufacturing, saw its shares rise by approximately 11% this year, nearing overtaking Amazon's market capitalization of $1.6 trillion. The Microsoft-Apple rivalry extends beyond market values, reflecting a neck-and-neck race in corporate valuations when considering cash reserves.
