Microsoft extends lead in cloud race with Alphabet

MICROSOFT IS OUTSTRIPPING Alphabet in the race to make money from generative artificial intelligence through early bets on Open AI and focus on big clients, raising worries that the Google parent could lose share in the cloud-computing market.

- ADITYA SONI

Cloud spending by businesses preparing to roll out Al features powered a rebound in growth for Microsoft's Azure platform in its first quarter, lifting the shares of the Windows maker up nearly 4% on Wednesday.