Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported third-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts’ expectations across key metrics, sending its shares up nearly 6% in after-hours trading. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a key driver of growth for the world’s largest search engine platform, with Google Cloud accelerating its performance. CEO Sundar Pichai remarked: “The momentum across the company is extraordinary. Our commitment to innovation, as well as our long-term focus and investment in AI, are paying off, with consumers and partners benefiting from our AI tools.” Following the earnings rep…