<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div>Last week, Alphabet Inc. GOOG GOOGL CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that the tech giant once came close to acquiring Netflix Inc. NFLX.What Happened: In a new interview on the All-In Podcast, Pichai was asked by David Friedberg about the biggest regrets or missed opportunities during his tenure as CEO.While Pichai said that he tries not to dwell on regrets, when pressed further, he acknowledged one major what-if: Netflix.&#34;Maybe Netflix, right?&#34; Pichai said. &#34;We debated Netflix at some point super intensely inside.&#34;&#34;I wouldn't call it regrets, but you always look back … in a world of butterfly effects, there were alternate paths, but maybe they are in a different part of the multiverse.&#34;Pichai also discussed Alphabet's broader innovation strategy, noting that despite appearing as a holding company, Alphabet focuses deeply on technology-first solutions.&#34;We are not just looking to invest capital in other attractive businesses,&#34; he said, adding that the company looks for problems where its technology and R&amp;D can provide a differentiated value proposition.He cited innovations like Waymo, Google Cloud and AI advancements through Gemini and DeepMind as examples of Alphabet's approach to incubating transformative businesses rooted in foundational research.Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.Why It’s Important: Over the years, Google has made several successful acquisitions like YouTube, Android and Waze.While Netflix focused early on original, data-driven content and global productions to become a major entertainment player, Google prioritized user-generated content through YouTube.The two companies took different paths: Netflix bet on premium storytelling, while Google emphasized scale and creator-driven platforms.In April, Alphabet reported first-quarter revenue of $90.23 billion, marking a 12% increase from the same period last year. The figure surpassed the Street consensus estimate of $89.2 billion. YouTube advertising revenue came in at $8.9 billion, ahead of the expected $8.1 billion.Netflix reported first-quarter revenue of $10.54 billion, reflecting a 12.5% year-over-year increase. The result slightly exceeded the Street consensus estimate of $10.52 billion.Price Action: In after-hours trading, Alphabet Inc.’s Class A shares dropped 1.64%, and Class C shares slipped 1.54%. Meanwhile, Netflix shares declined by 0.88%, according to Benzinga Pro.Alphabet has a growth score of 66.98% based on Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. Click here to compare it with other companies.Check out more of Benzinga’s Consumer Tech coverage by following this link.<ul> <li>Mark Zuckerberg Warns Of ‘Serious Disadvantage’ As China’s Data-Center Blitz Could Let DeepSeek Leapfrog US AI Labs</li> </ul>Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.</div></div></div>

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Sundar Pichai Reveals Google-Parent Once Super Intensely Debated About Buying Netflix: 'In A World Of Butterfly Effects…'

- Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that the company once considered acquiring Netflix, reflecting on this missed opportunity during an interview.  
- Pichai emphasized Alphabet's focus on technology-driven solutions and innovation, citing successful projects like Waymo and Google Cloud.  
- Despite different strategic paths, both companies reported significant revenue growth in the first quarter, with Alphabet earning $90.23 billion and Netflix $10.54 billion.  