Microsoft touts government AI contracts. Its Alpha Score sits at 58. The antitrust defendant sells trust to the US. Apple's 2015 FBI standoff shows a different path.
Microsoft's government sales pitch leaves little room for doubt. "Microsoft is bridging AI, data, and trust across the entire US Government," the company writes on its dedicated government portal. That line captures a broader shift: the software giant that once fought an anti-trust suit now positions itself as a government contractor.
The trajectory from a two-person startup writing BASIC interpreters in the mid-1970s to a government contractor is shared by many tech companies. By 2005, Microsoft had spawned three billionaires and roughly 12,000 millionaires, according to the company's history. Today, its largest customer is increasingly the US government. Read more on MSFT stock page.
Not every tech company follows the same path. Apple in 2015 refused the FBI's request to create software to unlock an iPhone used by a terrorist. CEO Tim Cook cited privacy risks. The FBI eventually found a third-party solution. Apple never learned how. As of June 23, 2026, Cook's net worth stood at $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.
For Microsoft stockholders, the government relationship carries risks and rewards. The company's Alpha Score sits at 58 out of 100, a moderate reading. Shares traded at $385.10, up 0.19% on the session. The government contracting business provides steady revenue. It also exposes the company to regulatory and political risk.
The FBI withdrew its request in March 2016 after an unidentified company provided the unlocking software.
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.