The Vergecast

Some of the biggest players in AI — in particular OpenAI, SpaceX, and Amazon — are heavily invested in creating a world after smartphones. They're also all rumored to be building devices that sound a lot like smartphones. Verge contributor David Imel helps us figure out what these companies might actually be building, what an AI smartphone looks like, and whether anyone can unseat Apple and Google. Links: Elon Musk denies a report about SpaceX’s AI phone prototype OpenAI is reportedly launching a phone for ChatGPT Amazon is making an Alexa phone Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google Zero continues to affect website after website, and publisher after publisher. David and Nilay discuss Google's increased focus on AI, the web companies finally starting to fight back, and whether there's a way forward for Google's pact with the open web. After that, they talk about a big week in AI detection software, which sometimes works and frequently doesn't. Then it's time for the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr is a dummy, the Light Flip, and more. Further reading: Google hit with $1 billion fine for breaking EU antitrust rules Reddit might cut ties with Google as traffic drops. From the NYT: How Google’s A.I. Search Is Imperiling the Open Web Google says Gemini now has 950 million monthly users. Google earnings China delivers a one-two punch to America’s AI dominance OpenAI says it accidentally hacked Hugging Face with a new AI system Substack adds an AI detector to help spot blogs written by no one Anthropic’s $1.5 billion book piracy settlement approved by judge Jeff Bezos is getting involved with centering Amazon’s AI in Prime Video Meta made its own AI detection system. It should have just used Google’s Ford picks Apple Maps for its next EV platform and updated BlueCruise Apple’s rumored ‘Upgrade’ program brings lease-to-own pricing for iPhones, Macs, and iPads iOS code could reportedly let Apple cut off apps when users miss iPhone payments Framework’s premium laptop is shipping with less RAM The higher-end prebuilt Framework Laptop 13 Pro now costs $800 more. The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove Judge pauses Paramount’s attempt to buy Warner Bros. Discovery Paramount’s Warner deal gets conditional approval in the EU. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:00 Claude Reads the Meters 00:04:00 Google Zero and Reddit Deal 00:15:00 AI Overviews Death Spiral 00:25:00 OpenAI Hacks Hugging Face 00:32:00 Substack AI Detector Debate 00:39:00 Prime Video Goes All In 00:44:00 Meta Content Seal Cynicism 00:53:00 Avengers Doomsday 01:03:00 Comic Con And Feige Reset 01:04:00 Brendan Carr Is a Dummy 01:12:00 Ramageddon Hits Framework 01:17:00 Apple Leasing Lockdown 01:21:00 Light Flip Phone Trend 01:26:00 Ford Picks Apple Maps 01:35:00 Paramount Merger Mess 01:35:00 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TikTok is endless. Netflix is already starting the next episode. Who's making time to read a book? Today we're chatting with The Atlantic's Rose Horowitch to discuss her story "The End of Reading is Here" and the role technology plays in reducing how much time — and attention — people have to read long pieces of writing. In a world where we're inundated with more text than ever from social media feeds, AI, and group chats, is it really possible that we're taking in less than before? Further reading: ⁠The End of Reading Is Here⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Samsung just kicked off phone season with the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8, along with two new watches and a look at its smart glasses. David and Nilay talk through all the new devices, Samsung's overall case for foldable phones, and what it'll take for Samsung — or anyone — to convince people to spend $2,000 on a phone. Further reading: Samsung’s wider Z Fold 8 feels just right Samsung’s newest foldable finally feels Ultra I almost forgot Samsung’s Z Flip 8 was a foldable Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 bet big on battery Samsung and Google’s smart glasses get two new designs Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So far, most electric vehicles have looked more or less like cars. But recently, a few companies have looked to another, smaller mode of transport for inspiration. The Verge's Andy Hawkins explains why companies like Amble and Chip are reinventing the golf cart, in the hopes of creating an entirely new kind of street-legal vehicle. As long as the speed limit stays low. Further reading: ⁠The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove | The Verge⁠ ⁠Anthropic has to pay authors. | The Verge⁠ ⁠The cost of GPUs goes far beyond AI data centers | The Verge⁠ ⁠Is America ready for this quirky Jeep-looking EV that can park itself?⁠ ⁠The ‘G-Wagen of golf carts’ could be the ideal second car⁠ ⁠America’s cheapest new EV is smaller than a ping-pong table and tops out at 19mph⁠ ⁠Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxi is getting a refresh⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since the beginning of the AI revolution, a few companies have claimed to be building the best and most powerful AI models. All of them were American. More recently, a few Chinese companies seem to have caught up, shipping models that are much cheaper and maybe also just as good. The Verge's Hayden Field and Lauren Feiner join the show to explain how China made so much progress, the threat that progress represents to US companies and the US government, and what might happen next. Further reading: ⁠China and the US are battling to become the world’s first AI superpower⁠ ⁠Trump’s Anthropic shutdown just made the case for non-American AI⁠ ⁠China delivers a one-two punch to America’s AI dominance⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's public beta season, which means David and Nilay have been upgrading some devices this week. We talk through the good and bad of our early experiences with Siri AI, and what it'll take for next-gen Siri to be a hit. After that, we discuss the real reason Apple decided to sue OpenAI over trade secrets, OpenAI's forthcoming smart speaker, the new Pixel colors, our emoji strategies, Brendan Carr, and much more. Further reading: Apple’s public betas for iOS 27 and more are out now Siri AI makes the Apple Watch finally feel like a wrist computer Siri AI is already changing how I use my iPhone The macOS 27 public beta is worth it just for the Liquid Glass tweaks Apple sues OpenAI for allegedly stealing hardware secrets Suno snatched millions of songs from YouTube, Genius, and Deezer Sam Altman didn’t need another lawsuit The 6 wildest claims in Apple’s lawsuit against OpenAI Another turn in the Apple v. OpenAI dispute. OpenAI has a new statement about Apple’s lawsuit. OnePlus officially gives up on the US and Europe OnePlus is dead in the US. Did it ever have a chance? Samsung shows off ‘brand new shape’ for Z Fold 8 in Spider-Man teaser OpenAI may announce a ChatGPT smart speaker this year OpenAI finally launches hardware… for Codex Pixel Watch 5 leak shows off four different finishes The Pixel colors might rule this year The PS6 sure sounds like a handheld Brendan Carr plans to let broadcast giants dominate the airwaves X admits its broken algorithm made the site feel like a ‘battleground’ States make last-ditch effort to stop the Paramount ‘media behemoth’ Paramount lead trial counsel on state AG suit: This merger is pro-competitive The new cracking face emoji might be an all-timer. Google’s Demis Hassabis says it’s time for a global AI watchdog — led by the US Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:00 Intro 00:02:00 Apple Betas and New Siri 00:08:00 Gemini Car Assistant Fails 00:15:00 Apple Sues OpenAI 00:18:00 Trade Secret Law Explained 00:28:00 Settlement or Long Fight 00:35:00 OpenAI Home Device Doubts 00:42:00 Smartphone Platform Lessons 00:50:00 Pixel Colors and Naming 00:52:00 OnePlus Retreat Explained 00:55:00 Carriers and iPhone Lock In 01:05:00 Brendan Carr Bribery Scandal 01:14:00 Emoji Lightning Round 01:18:00 X Algorithm Rediscovery 01:23:00 Foothills Of Singularity 01:29:00 Paramount Merger Spin 01:33:00 Wrap And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI text detectors have been notoriously unreliable, but that's starting to change. This year, Pangram keeps coming up as the trusted source in identifying AI-written text. We sit down with Pangram CEO Max Spero to find out how the system was made, how much we should trust it, and where the line is between useful AI and AI slop. Further reading: OnePlus officially gives up on the US and Europe⁠ ⁠Google ordered to open Android and Search to rivals in Europe⁠ ⁠Brendan Carr plans to let broadcast giants dominate the airwaves⁠ ⁠⁠The literary world isn’t prepared for AI⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Valve's Steam Machine might be exactly the living room console you've been waiting for. Or it might be too expensive, totally pointless, a waste of everyone's money and shelf space. The Verge's Sean Hollister joins the show to talk through all the feedback we've been getting about our coverage and our review. Is Valve's history a pro or a con? Is the price reasonable or ridiculous? Who is this device actually for? We have much to discuss. Further reading: Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week OpenAI may announce a ChatGPT smart speaker this year Another turn in the Apple v. OpenAI dispute ⁠The Steam Machine is the most ambitious game console I’ve ever played⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Steam Machine fits my TV, my desk, and my life⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Valve will finally let you build your own Steam Machine with SteamOS for desktop⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How much would the Steam Machine cost to build?⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI-generated music is suddenly everywhere. On social media, music streaming services, and elsewhere, stuff made on Suno is becoming unavoidable. The Verge's Terrence O'Brien joins David to talk about where Suno came from, whether it can truly change the way we create and consume music, and how we can and should respond to AI music. We also have some thoughts on whether these songs might someday be bangers. Further reading: X admits its broken algorithm made the site feel like a ‘battleground’ | The Verge The Pixel colors might rule this year | The Verge Pixel Watch 5 leak shows off four different finishes | The Verge New York becomes the first state to enact a data center moratorium | The Verge Suno is a music copyright nightmare Suno leans into customization with v5.5 Nobody wants to tell me why they only listen to their own Suno slop Suno’s upgraded AI music generator is technically impressive, but still soulless Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So far, there have been exactly zero great AI-first gadgets. But that hasn't stopped the tech industry from trying to figure out what shape and size these new gadgets might take, and whether any of them can best the device in your pocket. The Verge's Allison Johnson and Victoria Song join David to rank all those shapes, from pendant to smartwatch to rectangle, to see whether there is actually a next big thing out there. Further reading: ⁠ Apple sues OpenAI for allegedly stealing hardware secrets | The Verge ⁠ ⁠ Less is more with the Oura Ring 5 | The Verge ⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Netflix makes shows. And movies. And podcasts. And games. And… YouTube videos, apparently. So what even is Netflix anymore? Nilay and David have ideas. After that, they talk about Meta’s ongoing smart glasses mess, and whether Meta or anyone can make these devices work. Finally, it's time for Brendan Carr, RAMageddon, the state of X, and a dumb TV mystery. Further reading: Bloomberg: ⁠Netflix Viewers Are Abandoning Shows After One Season⁠ ⁠Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows ⁠ ⁠Netflix is about to host videos from BuzzFeed, Condé Nast, and other publishers⁠ ⁠Netflix Bets on Short Videos to Compete With YouTube - Business Insider⁠ ⁠Netflix's video podcast engagement numbers 'are low,' per insider⁠ ⁠Emmy Nominations List 2026: BEEF, The Diplomat, The Beast in Me, Black Rabbit, and More - Netflix Tudum⁠ ⁠If Microsoft sold off Xbox, who would even buy it?⁠ ⁠Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that would be recording all the time ⁠ ⁠Meta’s glasses will turn off the camera if you tamper with the privacy light ⁠ ⁠Solos debuts an even lighter version of its camera-less smart glasses ⁠ ⁠Boz describes how Meta’s smart glasses facial recognition feature would work. ⁠ ⁠Another verdict on camera glasses in court: nope! ⁠ ⁠ABC tells the government to get out of its newsrooms⁠ ⁠Meta’s new Muse Image model can pull other Instagram users into AI photos ⁠ ⁠You can (and should) opt out of letting people use your Instagram posts with Meta’s AI.⁠ ⁠Are you ready for what it takes to stop ghost guns?⁠ ⁠Vizio accidentally made the best dumb TV on the market⁠ ⁠PC shipments fell for the first time in over two years thanks to RAMageddon. ⁠ ⁠A tough chart about the RAM crisis. ⁠ ⁠Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠ , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠ .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠[email protected]⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:00 Intro 00:04:00 Netflix Identity Crisis 00:08:00 Creators Versus Netflix 00:15:00 Netflix Buys YouTube Videos 00:18:00 Go90 Scale Check In 00:19:00 Netflix Should Buy Xbox 00:28:00 Smart Glasses Panopticon 00:46:00 Backlash And Offline Tech 00:49:00 Smart Glasses Without Cameras 00:55:00 FCC Chilling Effect 01:03:00 Ramageddon Price Shock 01:07:00 Regulating Ghost Guns 01:14:00 X Product Reality Check 01:20:00 Vizio Dumb TV Mystery 01:25:00 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Quantum computing hype is everywhere. Trump says we'll have one by 2028, Microsoft by 2029. IBM is investing billions. Is it really happening? Science journalist Sophia Chen joins us to discuss her article, "What is a quantum computer good for? Absolutely nothing — yet," and break down what's real and what's hype in the quantum computing race. Further reading ⁠ Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that would be recording all the time ⁠ ⁠ Sonos laid off some of its veteran product and design executives ⁠ ⁠ Cash App fraud ⁠ ⁠ Starlink deployments on record pace ⁠ ⁠ Play-Doh for adults is the new Lego for adults ⁠ ⁠ Slate is hoping a little Razzmatazz will help sell its trucks ⁠ ⁠What is a quantum computer good for? Absolutely nothing — yet⁠ ⁠A new paper argues Microsoft exaggerated its quantum claims a year ago⁠ ⁠Drama over quantum computing’s future heats up⁠ ⁠The race is on for quantum-safe cryptography⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How much smartphone is too much smartphone? Why is it so hard to switch from one phone to another, even in 2026? And is your smartwatch finally ready to replace your phone, even for a few things? These are the questions you have, and The Verge's Allison Johnson is here to answer them. If you have others, keep 'em coming! Call the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11, email ⁠[email protected]⁠ , tell us everything. Further reading: Google announces Pixel 11 launch event in August | The Verge The whole Pixel line could get more expensive this year | The Verge Meta’s glasses will turn off the camera if you tamper with the privacy light | The Verge This jumping $800 robot camera dog filled me with joy ⁠Ditching my phone for an LTE smartwatch was a humbling experience⁠ ⁠I switch phones once a week — here’s how I manage the chaos⁠ ⁠Welp, I bought an iPhone again⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have all become desensitized. Every place is like every other place, every experience is happening at a remove and on a screen. And Ian Bogost, a Washington University professor and a writer at The Atlantic, argues that this "dematerialization" is making our life worse. Ian joins David to explain how to once again commune with the world. He tells us of the magic of paper tickets, why he's kind of obsessed with the rubber on his water bottle, and why you don't need to throw phone into the ocean — but you should probably watch more ASMR videos. The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life The Cult of Delayed Gratification Is a Lie Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been tracking the Trump Phone for more than a year. We weren't sure it was real, or that it would ever ship — and we were pretty darn sure it wasn't going to be made in America. Whatever the Trump Phone is, though? We finally got our hands on one. Dom Preston and some other Verge friends will join David to talk about the device, our first impressions, and whether this is could be the best phone of 2026. (Just kidding.) Further reading: ⁠I finally got my Trump phone⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many of us in the US, it's the beginning of a holiday weekend. So we figured we'd try and help you out. We grabbed a bunch of Verge staffers, and asked them all a simple question: How do you disconnect? We have ideas about Wi-Fi, about phone hygiene, about smartwatches, and much more. We're certainly not here to tell you to ditch screens entirely, but... screen responsibly, you know? Send us your tips, and have a great summer vacation! Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Things don't look great for console and game makers right now. With Xbox and PlayStation sales flagging, Microsoft preparing for big layoffs in its gaming division, and the price of everything on the rise, maybe it makes sense to save money where you can. You know, like making discs? David and Nilay discuss the end of the physical video game, before wondering whether Microsoft might be getting ready to get rid of Xbox altogether. After that, they talk about the new wave of hardware for AI coders, and the ongoing attempt to replace your laptop keyboard with... something, plus the latest iPhone 18 rumors and leaks. Finally, it's time for the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr is a Dummy, some breaking SpaceX phone news, and some truly wild BMW headlights. Further reading: Sony is killing all physical PlayStation game discs Xbox testing disc-to-digital feature that digitizes a physical game collection Xbox weighs canceling Blade game and shuttering Arkane Xbox: “We’re not reducing our overall investment in games.” Sony’s next-gen PlayStation will go ‘beyond the living room’ PlayStation and Xbox hardware had a tough May. Xbox prices spike another $100 or more With GTA looming, consoles are getting expensive at the worst possible time 007 First Light’s developer lays off staff but claims its next franchise will continue Rockstar workers push to unionize ahead of GTA VI’s launch OpenAI is teasing new hardware… for Codex Here’s a photo of OpenAI’s Codex hardware. iPhone 18 Pro ‘drop test’ leaks get yanked from X Leaked iPhone 18 Pro photos reportedly wound up on the dark web A future Qi standard could bring 50W wireless charging to more devices. Exclusive | SpaceX Showed Investors Prototype of Elon Musk’s New AI Device - WSJ Comcast is splitting in two The Supreme Court stops Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship WhatsApp is launching usernames: here’s how to reserve yours Supreme Court allows firing of FTC commissioners, ends agency independence Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 Book Pitch and Grill Week 00:04:00 Discs Are Dying 00:08:00 Live Service Shopping Malls 00:11:00 Microsoft Xbox Layoffs Talk 00:16:00 Console Sales Slump and Prices 00:20:00 PlayStation Beyond Living Room 00:24:00 OpenAI Codex Macro Keyboard 00:27:00 Voice Coding and Verification Loops 00:31:00 Dictation Hype and AI Limits 00:39:00 iPhone 18 Pro Leak Mystery 00:44:00 Battery Life Tradeoffs 00:48:00 Fast Wireless Charging Heat 00:52:00 CarPlay Beta Workarounds 00:56:00 Netflix Horror Unhinged 01:03:00 Cozy Repair Game Restory 01:06:00 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:16:00 SpaceX AI Phone Rumors 01:22:00 Grok OS App Problem 01:25:00 Comcast Splits In Two 01:33:00 WhatsApp Username Land Grab 01:35:00 BMW Headlights Go Bananas 01:40:00 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, Rivian has looked like one of the most compelling electric vehicle companies in America — and maybe the car maker most equipped to take on Tesla. All that potential comes down to this: the R2, the long-awaited and more affordable car that Rivian hopes can make it truly mainstream. After a journey to the R2's factory earlier this year, The Verge's Andrew Hawkins explains what the R2 is, why it matters, and what happens to Rivian if it's a hit — or a flop. Further reading: ⁠Range anxiety⁠ ⁠The Rivian R2 is too much fun to let drive itself⁠ ⁠Rivian surprises with R3 and R3X electric SUVs⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Onion 's takeover of conspiracy show InfoWars isn't officially complete — but comedian Tim Heidecker, who's serving as creative director, won't let that stop him from building out a slate of comedy programming. Before the new InfoWars launches July 2, The Verge's Mia Sato interviews Tim about what drew him to the project, how long he can (or wants to) maintain an Alex Jones parody, and whether it's worth doing an interview with The Verge when you've already done one with Wired. Further reading: ⁠The Onion’s rebooted InfoWars is coming July 2nd⁠ ⁠The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars was blocked by a judge⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for a new series on The Vergecast! (It still needs a name. Please help.) We're going to give Verge staffers a challenge, and regroup a few weeks later to see who did it best. We're starting with some vibe coding. The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes and Hayden Field share what they've made with AI that has actually stuck in their lives, before David gives the challenge: build a website to solve a problem in your life. The more ambitious and impressive the better. We'll be back with the results soon, and in the meantime, send us ideas for more challenges! (Also, names for the series. PLEASE.) Further reading: ⁠Anthropic’s Mythos 5 is back | The Verge⁠ ⁠Supreme Court allows firing of FTC commissioners, ends agency independence⁠ ⁠Comcast is splitting in two | The Verge⁠ ⁠WhatsApp is launching usernames: here’s how to reserve yours | The Verge⁠ ⁠Welcome to the personal software revolution⁠ ⁠I used Claude to vibe-code my wildly overcomplicated smart home⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meta's business is doing just fine. But Meta as a company, and Meta as a series of products? That is, uh, messier. David and Nilay discuss the company's ongoing desire to be relevant and cool, the unceasing importance of Instagram, and why it makes perfect sense that Facebook would clone Polymarket. After that, the hosts talk about Apple's huge price increases, and the ways in which RAMageddon might change the gadget market forever. Then it's time for Brendan Carr is a dummy, the latest on the movie Artificial, and the looming fight over AI data. Further reading: ⁠The Steam Machine is the most ambitious game console I’ve ever played ⁠ ⁠Valve prices the Steam Machine at $1,049 ⁠ ⁠How much would the Steam Machine cost to build? ⁠ ⁠Valve describes just how brutal RAM negotiations are in 2026 ⁠ ⁠The Steam Machine is the start of an even more expensive future for game consoles ⁠ ⁠I drove the Slate Truck — there’s more to it than EV minimalism ⁠ ⁠The Slate Auto pickup truck starts at $24,950 ⁠ ⁠Meta pauses employee tracking tool after internal leak. ⁠ ⁠Now Meta will track what employees do on their computers to train its AI agents ⁠ ⁠Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth Admits the Company’s AI Reorg Was ‘Atrocious’ | WIRED⁠ ⁠Zuckerberg reportedly wants a Polymarket clone — but without real money⁠ ⁠Polymarket paid creators to post fake videos of themselves placing and winning bets. ⁠ ⁠Meta plans to release AI-powered prediction market app⁠ ⁠Facebook’s Creator Studio has been revived as an AI companion app⁠ ⁠Kaleidescape’s Strato E player blows streaming, and your wallet, away ⁠ ⁠Something’s off with Midjourney’s pivot to body scanners ⁠ ⁠People Inc. CEO says it’s “probably” headed for a confrontation with Google over AI crawling.⁠ ⁠ABC encourages viewers to back network amid FCC investigations⁠ ⁠Bob Iger’s Disney wanted Apple, Twitter, and 007 ⁠ ⁠The film about Sam Altman has been dropped by Amazon MGM ⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:00 Cannes Cold Open 00:07:00 Coach x Spotify Absurdity 00:10:00 Vox Media PMX Shakeup 00:14:00 Meta Chaos vs Money 00:26:00 Gambling as Engagement 00:33:00 Ramageddon Hits Gadgets 00:44:00 Slate Truck Price 00:45:00 Range And Truck Feel 00:48:00 Tech Bloat Backlash 00:50:00 BYD Versus Tesla 00:56:00 FCC Targets The View 01:04:00 Amazon Drops Artificial 01:08:00 Kaleidescape Versus Blu Ray 01:13:00 Bob Iger Merger Rumors 01:17:00 Blocking AI Crawlers 01:22:00 Wrap Up And Next Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Training data is the raw material of the AI industry. Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and the rest are built on top of oceans of stuff . What is that stuff? Books. Blog posts. YouTube videos. Reddit comments. All of it and more, in virtually incomprehensible quantities. Alex Reisner, a staff writer at The Atlantic who has been investigating training data, explains how AI companies get all this data, why they'd really prefer you not know what's in it, and whether training data could ever be a fair trade. Further reading: Apple raises prices on Macs, iPads, and more by hundreds of dollars | The Verge⁠ ⁠Disney agrees to pay $50 million to YouTube TV and DirecTV subscribers | The Verge⁠ Two handlebars are better than one, right? | The Verge⁠ At Least 15 Million YouTube Videos Have Been Snatched by AI Companies⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Hypocrisy at the Heart of the AI Industry ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Millions of Songs Mashed Into AI-Generated Music⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Common Crawl Is Doing the AI Industry’s Dirty Work⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google is shipping its first smart speaker in six years, and we're starting to test it. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show to explain why the Home Speaker matters, whether Google actually cares about the smart home, and more. Then, she helps answer a few questions from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected] !) about the power of Ikea and the future of your thermostat. Further reading: The Google Home Speaker sounds good and looks great — but it’s finicky Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A huge portion of the tech industry has decided that smart glasses are the next big thing. But why? Smart glasses are incredibly hard to make, hugely socially complicated, and require users to want to wear a gadget on their face. The Verge's Victoria Song helps us figure out which features, if any, will make smart glasses worth all the trouble. Further reading: All these smart glasses and nothing to do Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Valve has been trying to crack the living room for more than a decade, and the new Steam Machine is its best attempt yet. It's a little bit PC, a little bit console, and a lot pricy — starting at $1,049, it had a lot to live up to. The Verge’s Sean Hollister has been testing the device, and shares his findings on whether the Steam Machine can hang with PlayStation and Xbox. He also explains why, despite a never-ending list of challenges, Valve is still trying to make this device work. Further reading: ⁠The Steam Machine is the most ambitious game console I’ve ever played⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Harmony Universal Remote was supposed to be the only controller you needed for all the devices in your life. So what happened? David Pierce is joined by The Verge ’s Nilay Patel and John Higgins, as well as Nest co-founder (and current Harmony user) Matt Rogers, to follow the Harmony's timeline from its origins as the "Easy Zapper," through Logitech's acquisition, all the way to its slow death at the hands of smart TVs. And their vastly inferior remotes. If you like the show, ⁠ ⁠follow the Version History audio podcast feed⁠ ⁠ to get every new episode. Version History is also on video! Check us out on YouTube. ⁠Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠ , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠ . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠[email protected]⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new smart glasses from Snap look like an impressive bit of technology, and some of the most advanced glasses we've seen. But Nilay and David start the show by wondering, does that matter if nobody wants to put them on? What would it take to overcome the ear-smashing? After that, they discuss the reasons for (and problems awaiting) Fox's acquisition of Roku, the latest updates from Matter, Facebook's wild AI Mode, and more. Further reading: Snap is finally about to ship AR glasses — and they cost a fortune Snap Unveils Specs Smart Glasses at AWE 2026 From CNBC: Snap CEO Evan Spiegel on new AR Specs: New opportunity to bring computing to the world around you Qualcomm’s latest chip hints that more powerful smart glasses could be on the way The Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 now come with Snapdragon X2 chips Commodore’s Callback 8020 is a retro flip phone with modern ideals Google’s first smart speaker in six years arrives next week Fox is buying Roku Fox wants to take over your TV — and the tech inside it Netflix was reportedly worried about antitrust scrutiny if it bought Roku instead of Fox. Fox is taking over Roku City How Stephen Colbert’s Replacement Is Helping Tank the Rest of CBS Will Matter finally be able to do what it should have always done? | The Verge Thread Direct looks to solve Matter’s biggest setup headache | The Verge Half a billion people are using Threads every month Facebook’s new AI Mode search gets its info from public posts Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:00 Intro 00:02:00 Snap Specs revealed 00:06:00 Snap software advantage 00:08:00 Price comfort reality check 00:10:00 True AR breakthrough 00:15:00 Demos vs daily life 00:21:00 Privacy and moderation risks 00:27:00 Fox buys Roku why 00:29:00 Distribution is power 00:33:00 Roku neutrality ends 00:37:00 Roku Lock-In Debate 00:41:00 Piracy Exit Ramp 00:42:00 Tubi Meets Roku Channel 00:46:00 Go90 Scale Rankings 00:52:00 Distribution Matters CBS 00:57:00 Hype Desk Movies 01:03:00 Knicks Laptop Festival 01:06:00 Brendan Carr Is A Dummy 01:10:00 Radio Ownership Waivers 01:12:00 Threads User Numbers 01:16:00 Meta AI Mode Risks 01:19:00 Matter Joint Fabric 01:28:00 Wrap Up and Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your headphones' microphone matters. A lot. And yet we never know how we sound to others, or whether we're clear to our AI assistants! So from time to time, we like to grab a bunch of headphones and put their microphones through some tough real-world tests. This time, with the help of The Verge's John Higgins, we discover the best-sounding mic we've ever tested. And no, it's not on a pair of AirPods. Not even close. Further reading: Anker’s new earbuds have the best call quality I’ve ever heard AirPods Pro 3 review: tripling down on a good thing Sennheiser’s new Momentum 5 headphones have upgraded ANC and a replaceable battery The tech world is sleeping on the most exciting Bluetooth feature in years Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthropic and the US government are once again at odds, this time over the Claude Fable 5 model that either is, or is not, or might be, far too dangerous to release to the world. The Verge's Hayden Field explains what's going on with Fable, Mythos, and the whole idea of American AI exceptionalism, before also answering your questions about how WhatsApp and Siri might one day work together, and whether Apple messed up by calling it Siri AI.[10:24 AM] ⁠Inside the fight over Claude Mythos 5⁠ ⁠Anthropic cuts off Fable 5 and Mythos 5 access following government order⁠ ⁠I tried Siri AI, and so far it actually works⁠ ⁠Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠ , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠ . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠[email protected]⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Markdown is a system for writing that makes it readable to both humans and computers. It's all about the symbols. You use - to make a list, * for emphasis, ** for even more emphasis. Brackets and parentheses turn into links. Once you know Markdown, you might begin to think in Markdown. Right now it is absolutely everywhere: people are maintaining their Claude.MD files for conversing with AI bots, and writing their notes in Markdown editors like Obsidian. So where did Markdown come from? It came from John Gruber. John joins the show, along with Anil Dash, to tell the story of where Markdown came from and how it took over the world. Further reading: ⁠The Markdown spec⁠ ⁠How Markdown took over the world⁠ ⁠Gruber on Apple Notes Markdown support⁠ ⁠9to5mac: iOS 26 to bring new features for Messages, CarPlay, and more Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠ , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠ . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠[email protected]⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're all starting to test Apple's newest software post-WWDC, and the most surprising thing has happened: Siri actually seems to be pretty good now. Nilay and David discuss how that happened, and what it means for the AI industry, and all of us, that Apple's voice assistant is finally useful. Then, we have some news about Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube that adds up to a big change in social networks, plus the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr, the Trump Phone, and a really great deal for iPad users Further reading: Apple announces Siri AI and its next generation of Apple Intelligence I tried Siri AI, and so far it actually works Apple’s new Siri AI knows when to shut up I’m relieved Siri AI isn’t trying to be a health coach You can just tell the Instagram algorithm what you want now YouTube is introducing DMs (again) Bluesky is getting ‘communities’ Anthropic releases its first Mythos-class model Claude Fable Claude Fable won’t answer basic biology questions Anthropic apologizes for invisible Claude Fable guardrails Microsoft restricts Claude Fable for employees over data retention concerns YouTube is introducing DMs (again) Bluesky is getting ‘communities’ iFixit Trump phone teardown confirms it’s an HTC dupe Solar has overtaken coal in the US for the first time AT&T is launching $3 ‘unlimited’ day passes for iPads Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:00 New Siri is good 00:04:00 Search Index Breakthrough 00:08:00 Cloud vs On Device 00:11:00 Siri Upends AI Apps 00:20:00 Where Is The Computer 00:24:00 EU Interoperability Fight 00:31:00 Social News Lightning Trio 00:33:00 Mosseri Algorithm Control 00:35:00 Bluesky Communities 00:37:00 YouTube DMs Social Push 00:41:00 Bluesky Bets on Communities 00:50:00 Talking to Your Algorithm 00:51:00 AI Made-to-Order Instagram 00:54:00 Bespoke Apps Break Reality 01:01:00 Hype Desk 01:02:00 Social Reckoning Trailer Breakdown and Casting 01:14:00 CBS News Meltdown 01:17:00 Carr vs Newsrooms 01:20:00 SpaceX IPO Favors 01:24:00 Claude Fable Guardrails 01:30:00 Trump Phone Teardown 01:34:00 AT&T iPad Day Pass 01:36:00 Solar Beats Coal 01:38:00 Signoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Movies directed by YouTubers are suddenly blowing up at the box office. Backrooms and Obsession are both smash hits, and The Amazing Digital Circus had a big debut last week. Is this the moment YouTube truly takes over Hollywood? Julia Alexander, media correspondent at Puck, walks us through the much longer history of YouTube on the big screen, and helps us figure out where this all goes next. Is the future just really, really big YouTube videos? Further reading: ⁠Backrooms is at the forefront of horror’s YouTube wave⁠ ⁠Iron Lung’s path to theaters was unique, even if the movie isn’t⁠ ⁠YouTube is everything and everything is YouTube⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that we've had a couple of days to digest all the Siri AI updates, the new corner radii, and everything else Apple announced at its developer conference, we spend the episode answering all your most burning questions. What non-AI stuff are we excited about? How much catching up did Siri really do this week? And wait: what about the HomePod? Further reading: ⁠WWDC 2026: All the news from Apple’s developers conference⁠ ⁠5 things I already love from the iOS 27 beta⁠ ⁠Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠ , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠ .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠[email protected]⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Long before Steve Jobs was the unstoppable force of nature atop Apple, shipping hit product after hit product, he was practically run out of the company after a series of bad product and management decisions. But as Geoffrey Cain argues in his new book, Steve Jobs in Exile: The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of an American Visionary, the 12 years Jobs spent outside of Apple turned him into the leader the world came to know. Cain joins the show to talk about Jobs' experiences at NeXT and Pixar, how Jobs learned to be a successful leader, and the true power — and danger — of the reality distortion field. Further reading: Steve Jobs in Exile Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:30 Intro 00:01:56 90 Seconds on The Verge 00:03:46 Interview with Geoffrey Cain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple's annual developer conference keynote was a strange one this year. The company breezed by its normal slew of operating system upgrades, and talked instead about helping people manage their relationships with their devices, and AI. Lots and lots of AI. On this post-keynote livestream, David Pierce, Hayden Field, and Jake Kastrenakes give their first takes on Siri AI, the Apple Intelligence features coming this fall, Apple's new Screen Time design, and everything else we liked and disliked from the keynote. Including the corner radii. Further reading: ⁠Apple WWDC 2026: The 7 biggest announcements⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:00 Why This Keynote Felt Chaotic 00:05:00 AI Takes Center Stage 00:06:00 Apple Plays Catch Up 00:09:00 Privacy and Private Cloud 00:12:00 Useful Versus Creepy AI 00:18:00 Why Apple Went All In 00:25:00 New Siri Voice 00:33:00 Siri App Intents 00:37:00 Vibe Coding Shortcuts 00:39:00 Siri Goes Orb Mode 00:41:00 Too Many Siri Gestures 00:42:00 Apple Trust and Screen Time 00:46:00 Kids Safety and App Responsibility 00:50:00 App Store Dissonance and Regulation 00:52:00 OS 27 Device Cutoffs 00:59:00 Favorite Features and Liquid Glass 01:04:00 Dictation Confusion and Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's developer conference season, and one of the themes so far has been big swings at AI apps. We've seen Gemini Spark, Microsoft Scout, and so many other attempts to figure out what people, and companies, actually want their AI to do. Nilay and David discuss their experiences with the apps, before turning to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's vision for the AI-filled laptop of the future. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr is a Dummy, a deeply dumb Meta hack, and the future of a favorite VR game. Further reading: ⁠Testing Google’s Gemini Spark AI agent: it’s incredible, and creepy ⁠ ⁠Gemini’s new AI agent is about as good as Google’s demo ⁠ ⁠Microsoft Scout is a new AI personal assistant built on OpenClaw ⁠ ⁠Microsoft’s Project Solara is an OS for AI agent gadgets ⁠ ⁠As AI gets better, it reveals an empty promise ⁠ ⁠Let us filter AI slop, you cowards⁠ ⁠Microsoft and OpenAI broke up — now they’re ready to fight ⁠ ⁠These are the first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops ⁠ ⁠This is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra with Nvidia RTX Spark ⁠ ⁠A first look at Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface Dev Box⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠Nvidia is already planning N2X and N3X chips — the goal is the Star Trek computer ⁠ ⁠This could be Windows’ M1 moment — but expect it to cost a ton ⁠ ⁠Computex 2026: All the news and announcements ⁠ ⁠Meta’s own AI was exploited to hijack Instagram accounts⁠ ⁠Apple’s strategy for smart glasses is the same as for smart watches ⁠ ⁠It sure seems like the Vision Pro isn’t getting upgraded for a while — if ever.⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:00 Intro 00:03:00 New Verge Merch Drop 00:09:00 Gemini Spark Test Drive 00:13:00 Privacy Tradeoffs Debate 00:21:00 Software Brain Pushback 00:36:00 Jensen Huang Computer Future 00:39:00 Microsoft Build Reality Check 00:41:00 Nvidia Spark Recall 00:42:00 Microsoft Badge Agents 00:54:00 Escaping Apple Tax 00:57:00 Wearables Walled Gardens 01:05:00 Hype Desk 01:06:00 Bond Game Streaming 01:09:00 Summer Games Fest 01:11:00 State of Play Highlights 01:11:00 God of War 01:14:00 Wolverine Gore Talk 01:15:00 Widows Bay 01:17:00 Lightning Round 01:17:00 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:26:00 Apple Glasses Rumors 01:36:00 Privacy Backlash Risk 01:38:00 Meta AI Hack Fiasco 01:43:00 Supernatural Returns 01:47:00 Wrap and Next Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft's commitment to AI is not news. Copilot has been everywhere for... a while now. But at this week's Build developer conference, the company made clear that it wants — and needs — to be a bigger player in the space. The Verge's Tom Warren joins David to talk about the new Scout AI assistant, the Solara operating system concept, and whether Microsoft can hang with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Also: How's the new era of Xbox going? We’re also on video! Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How far can we push the limits of the human body? At the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, a few dozen athletes tried to find out, and The Verge's Victoria Song was there to watch. She tells us the story of the swimmers, weightlifters, and other athletes who competed, the intense training and drug regimens they underwent, and the complicated mix of pseudo-science and actual science behind the event. Then, she tells us where this project goes from here — because the Enhanced Games experiment is just beginning. Further reading: ⁠Roids were all the rage at the Enhanced Games⁠ ⁠What would you be willing to put in your body?⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 90 Seconds Headlines 00:04:00 What Are Enhanced Games 00:06:00 Sport Science or Grift 00:07:00 Wellness Grifter Playbook 00:10:00 Rules for Doping 00:11:00 Allowed Drugs Explained 00:14:00 Clean Athletes Surprise 00:18:00 Harm Reduction Argument 00:21:00 Heat and Event Chaos 00:28:00 Peptides for Sale 00:29:00 Telehealth Friction Debate 00:32:00 Influencers vs Media Narrative 00:33:00 Athlete Payout Reality 00:35:00 Future Plans and Stock 00:37:00 Vegas Vibes and Sexy Water 00:37:00 Hotline 00:41:00 Ferrari Luce Listener Takes 00:44:00 Final Thoughts and WWDC Plug Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nvidia is betting that AI is going to change the way you use your computer — and with a new chip, the RTX Spark, it's hoping to ensure it powers that new-fangled AI machine. During a big week for the PC industry, with the Computex trade show and Microsoft's Build developer conference happening simultaneously, The Verge's Sean Hollister explains what's inside the Spark, why Nvidia is taking on Apple, Intel, AMD, and the rest of the chip industry, and whether the world's most valuable company has a shot at reinventing the personal computer. Without costing a fortune. Nvidia announces RTX Spark as ‘the most efficient PC chip ever built’ This is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra with Nvidia RTX Spark These are the first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops AMD’s new pitch: our old tech is so good you should just keep using it We’re also on video! Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Vergecast is officially a daily show! We kick things off with the return of 90 Seconds on The Verge, a peek at the top stories on theverge.com . Then, we turn to our old pal Casey Neistat for some advice. Casey vlogged every day for 800 days straight, and has some thoughts on the pros and cons of daily posting, the state of YouTube in 2026, and how to make things every day without losing your mind in the process. We’re also on video! Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ferrari Luce is here, and suffice to say it is not the electric Ferrari anyone expected. Nilay and David dig into the Jony Ive-designed car, from its marvelously appointed interior to its decidedly non-Ferrari-like exterior. (You might even call it... Nissan Leaf-like.) After that, the hosts discuss some of the latest backlash against AI, Google's ongoing AI-based changes to Search, and AI content labels. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, some deeply nerdy display tech, and the incredible rising price of everything. Further reading: ⁠Ferrari reveals its first EV, with design help from Jony Ive ⁠ ⁠Jony Ive’s Ferrari looks nothing like a Ferrari ⁠ ⁠This Ferrari should have been a Volkswagen ⁠ ⁠Ferrari’s stock plummets after disappointing Luce unveil. ⁠ ⁠‘If I were to say what I think, I would be hurting Ferrari.’ ⁠ ⁠All the news about Ferrari’s polarizing Luce EV⁠ ⁠YouTube is putting AI labels where you’ll actually see them⁠ ⁠People sure do hate Google’s AI Search updates.⁠ ⁠Pope Leo warns of the risks of AI in major papal document ⁠ ⁠The Pope isn’t AGI-pilled ⁠ ⁠Did the Pope use AI to write about the dangers of AI? ⁠ ⁠Sony’s first RGB TV is a statement piece⁠ ⁠Facebook launches a ‘Plus’ subscription that gives you extra features ⁠ ⁠Valve raises Steam Deck prices by more than $200 ⁠ ⁠It’s not stopping any time soon. ⁠ ⁠The golden age of handheld gaming is already over⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. ((Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:00 Intro 00:02:00 Daily Vergecast Era 00:03:00 Ferrari First EV 00:06:00 Why Luce Looks Wrong 00:07:00 Media Junket Ethics 00:08:00 Apple Car Vibes Inside 00:10:00 Comparisons to Leaf 00:13:00 Ferrari Legend Backlash 00:16:00 EVs Should Feel Normal 00:19:00 Cadillac EV Counterpoint 00:23:00 Jony Ive Constraints Debate 00:30:00 Anti AI Search Shift 00:32:00 Google Search Randomness 00:37:00 Beta Testing Users 00:42:00 Personalized Buying Future 00:45:00 Bad AI Products Everywhere 00:46:00 YouTube AI Labels 00:49:00 Auto Detection Doubts 00:51:00 Ads Versus AI Opt Out 00:52:00 Pope On Humanity 00:55:00 Uber Questions Productivity 01:03:00 Brendan Carr’s Hard Hat 01:07:00 Meta Subscription Squeeze 01:14:00 Sony RGB Backlight TVs 01:19:00 Roku Home Screen Ads 01:21:00 Gaming Prices Spike 01:26:00 Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's now surprisingly easy to watch most of a movie without ever trying to, or to spend hours with a podcast without ever playing an episode. In the burgeoning clip economy, everything is being cut into bite-sized pieces and being blasted around the internet hoping to land in your feeds. The Verge's Mia Sato explains the machinery of how all this works, and wonders what it means for our social media experience. After that, The Verge's Victoria Song joins to discuss the Fitbit Air, the new $99 Google fitness tracker she and David have both been testing. It's a fascinating, thoroughly AI-ified device, and it actually has some pretty good ideas. (And some bad ones!) Finally, Vee sticks around to help David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected] !) about smart glasses, and whether helping you find your other gear might just be a killer app. Further reading: Inside the cutthroat community of ‘clippers’ Google’s taking a big swing at AI health with the Fitbit Air What’s the role of a simple fitness band in the AI health era? All these smart glasses and nothing to do Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Brick Your Phone 00:03:00 Clips Go Industrial 00:06:00 How Clipping Platforms Work 00:08:00 Why It Looks Organic 00:11:00 Clavicular Case Study 00:13:00 Shady or Just Marketing 00:20:00 Platform Rules and Reality 00:26:00 Slop and the Future of Clips 00:36:00 Watch Band Color Debate 00:38:00 Why Fitbit Air Matters 00:40:00 Whoop Dupe Or Fitbit Roots 00:45:00 Google Health AI Coach 00:50:00 Limits And Lab Upload Friction 00:53:00 Privacy And Data Tradeoffs 00:56:00 AI Health Personalities Compared 01:04:00 Hotline Smart Glasses Tracking 01:09:00 Future Of All Day Glasses 01:13:00 Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we get into this week's tech news, we have some corporate news to discuss, and some very exciting Vergecast news to share. (If you have questions about either one, hit us up: [email protected] or 866-VERGE11!) Then, Nilay and David get back into the weeds on all things Google I/O, and in particular the ways AI is changing the Google Search experience. When Gemini can find things for you, make things for you, even buy things for you, are you even searching anymore? Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr is a Dummy, SpaceX, the Trump Phone, and some very confusing social networks. Further reading: The future of Google is a search box that does everything Google is building a ‘universal’ AI shopping cart that tracks prices, offers suggestions, and finds discounts Demis Hassabis said this might be the ‘foothills of the singularity.’ What? Google is trying to make deepfake detection more accessible Google Search’s AI evolution includes more ads Google’s AI future demands trust — and your personal data Why does the Googlebook exist? The FCC voted to ‘streamline’ tracking US broadband quality. In SpaceX’s IPO, Elon Musk is the risk factor Spotify is verifying podcasts made by real people too. NBC just got the Trump phone. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 Vox Media Sale 00:08:00 What Changes for The Verge 00:12:00 Vergecast Goes Daily 00:18:00 Feedback and Launch Details 00:23:00 Google I O Vibe Check 00:24:00 Agents Everywhere at Google 00:25:00 Search Becomes the Platform 00:26:00 Singularity Talk Whiplash 00:31:00 Monetizing AI and Google Zero 00:37:00 Shopping Web Takes Over 00:39:00 Agents Replace Browsing 00:43:00 Canvas Makes Apps 00:49:00 Google Book Devices Pitch 00:51:00 Agents Break App Economics 00:53:00 Traffic Deal Is Over 01:01:00 Hype Desk Forza Horizon 6 01:07:00 Subnautica 2 Surprise Hit 01:11:00 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:14:00 Broadband Map Complaints 01:21:00 Spotify AI Whiplash 01:25:00 Deepfake Detection Reality 01:30:00 SpaceX IPO Breakdown 01:34:00 Trump Phone In Wild 01:37:00 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google I/O was, predictably, all about AI this year. And if it actually works, a lot of this stuff could be pretty useful! Immediately after the two hour long keynote (that contained approximately 190 total mentions of the terms "AI" and "Gemini") The Verge’s senior AI reporter Hayden Field and executive editor Jake Kastrenakes went live on YouTube with their reactions. Further reading: The 13 biggest announcements at Google I/O 2026 The 5 biggest changes coming to Gemini Google Search is getting its biggest changes ever Inside Google’s Beam Lab, an AI face appears We’re also on video! Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Musk v. OpenAI trial continues, which means so do the allegations and leaks surrounding some of the most influential people in tech. Nilay and David recount the most interesting and entertaining moments from the courtroom this week, before digging into what we've learned about when Sam Altman was fired. After that, the hosts discuss OpenAI's apparent plans to build a phone, which seem utterly necessary and utterly doomed, along with the new Fitbit Air and a truly strange new home robot. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the Chinese company that wants to make everything, and the next big rebrand for xAI. Further reading: ⁠Internal Tech Emails on X: "Sam Altman texts Mira Murat⁠ ⁠We are going through the removal of Sam Altman from OpenAI in detail. ⁠ ⁠Toner is relating how Sam Altman’s firing happened. ⁠ ⁠Toner says she found out about ChatGPT by seeing screenshots on Twitter. ⁠ ⁠Zilis sent Altman a text message of support after his 2023 ouster. ⁠ ⁠Google’s taking a big swing at AI health with the Fitbit Air⁠ ⁠OpenAI is reportedly launching a phone for ChatGPT ⁠ ⁠The creator of Roomba is back with a furry robot companion ⁠ ⁠Inside Dreame’s wild launch event — packed with products no one can buy⁠ ⁠Dreame — the vacuum company — just ‘launched’ its own phones | The Verge⁠ ⁠Dreame’s rocket-powered car can do 0–60 in 0.9 seconds because you can just say things now⁠ ⁠A foldable iPhone dummy — on video. ⁠ ⁠Apple agrees to pay iPhone owners $250 million for not delivering AI Siri ⁠ ⁠DOJ assault on the NFL could end the Packers as we know them.⁠ ⁠Apple could let you pick a favorite AI model in iOS 27 ⁠ ⁠xAI is becoming SpaceXAI.⁠ ⁠Microsoft gives up on Xbox Copilot AI ⁠ ⁠Microsoft’s new Xbox shake-up is all about platform changes ⁠ ⁠Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠ , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠ .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠[email protected]⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 Trial Discovery Era 00:06:00 Early OpenAI Origins 00:11:00 Elon Power Struggle 00:17:00 Altman Firing Texts 00:27:00 Why The Board Panicked 00:36:00 ChatGPT Phone Rumor 00:39:00 OpenAI Phone vs App Store 00:41:00 Why Apps Still Matter 00:44:00 Apple Siri Power Play 00:49:00 Apple Intelligence Lawsuit 00:53:00 Google Fitbit Air 00:57:00 Google Health Rebrand Backlash 01:01:00 Familiar Robot Pet Debate 01:10:00 Nintendo Star Fox Returns 01:12:00 Nintendo Weirdness Wins 01:15:00 Furry Overlap Discourse 01:16:00 Zach Gardening Surprise 01:21:00 Brendan Carr Broadband Fight 01:23:00 NFL Antitrust And Packers 01:29:00 Dreame Vaporware Parade 01:32:00 Rocket Car Reality Check 01:34:00 Elon Corporate Matryoshka 01:36:00 Xbox Ditches Copilot 01:37:00 Wrap Up And Schedule Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Car companies are beginning to use AI tools to radically speed up their development process, which could change the cars we drive forever — and have some big effects on the people who make them now. Verge contributor Tim Stevens explains. Then, The Verge’s Hayden Field catches us up on Codex vs. Claude Code, Anthropic vs. the US government, the vibes at OpenAI, and more, before helping answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email ⁠[email protected]⁠ !) about whether all the recent tech layoffs are really about AI. Further reading: ⁠The AI-designed car is taking shape | The Verge⁠ ⁠Pentagon strikes classified AI deals with OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia — but not Anthropic⁠ ⁠Google employees ask Sundar Pichai to say no to classified military AI use | The Verge⁠ ⁠Anthropic’s new cybersecurity model could get it back in the government’s good graces | The Verge⁠ ⁠Microsoft and OpenAI’s famed AGI agreement is dead | The Verge⁠ ⁠Here’s how the new Microsoft and OpenAI deal breaks down | The Verge⁠ ⁠ChatGPT downloads are slowing — and may cause problems for OpenAI’s IPO | The Verge⁠ ⁠Claude can now plug directly into Photoshop, Blender, and Ableton | The Verge⁠ ⁠OpenAI’s new security model is for ‘critical cyber defenders’ only | The Verge⁠ ⁠Anthropic releases a new Opus model amid Mythos Preview buzz | The Verge⁠ ⁠Jack Dorsey’s Block cuts nearly half of its staff in AI gamble | The Verge⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 Today Show Preview 00:04:00 Car Design Primer 00:08:00 AI Speeds Up Design 00:13:00 Clay Models and Craft 00:15:00 Jobs Pipeline Risk 00:18:00 Software Defined Cars 00:20:00 Regulation and Safety 00:27:00 Slate Truck Update 00:34:00 Claude Code vs Codex 00:42:00 OpenAI Vibes Check 00:44:00 PR vs AI Doomerism 00:48:00 Pentagon Deals Exclude Anthropic 00:53:00 Mythos Reality Check 00:56:00 RIP AGI Moment 01:04:00 Hotline AI Layoffs ROI 01:13:00 Wrap Up and Sign Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elon Musk spent a lot of his week trying to explain how OpenAI wronged him — but mostly just seemed to annoy everyone else in the courtroom. Nilay and David discuss Musk's testimony in the OpenAI trial, and what it might mean for the trial going forward. After that, the Hype Desk gang recommends a couple of new things to watch, before the hosts chat about the week's new gadgets, including the Steam Controller and the dual-screen Zephyrus Duo laptop. Finally, in the lightning round, Brendan Carr picks a fight over Jimmy Kimmel again, Netflix buys into the clip economy, and Taylor Swift fights the AI. Further reading: Elon Musk confirms xAI used OpenAI’s models to train Grok All the evidence unveiled so far in Musk v. Altman Elon Musk appeared more petty than prepared Elon Musk tells the jury that all he wants to do is save humanity Elon Musk’s worst enemy in court is Elon Musk Jury selection in Musk v. Altman: ‘People don’t like him’ Microsoft and OpenAI’s famed AGI agreement is dead Now that OpenAI’s Microsoft exclusivity is over, it has a new deal with Amazon and AWS. ChatGPT downloads are slowing — and may cause problems for OpenAI’s IPO Meta lost 20 million users last quarter The more young people use AI, the more they hate it Google Search queries hit an ‘all time high’ last quarter Valve’s new Steam Controller isn’t perfect, but I’m buying one anyway Valve launches the Steam Controller without the Steam Machine Why the Steam Controller is (and isn’t) a big deal Samsung’s first smart glasses have leaked Is this Samsung’s upcoming wide foldable? The long rumored foldable iPad may never see the light of day. The new Razr Ultra is still the best-looking phone out there Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (2026) review: 2 screens 2 furious Trump demands ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel The FCC is going after the broadcast licenses of Disney-owned ABC stations Former FCC staffers agree: Brendan Carr needs to be stopped The FCC is saving Amazon’s Eero and Leo routers from its ban, too. Taylor Swift deepfakes are pushing scams on TikTok Here’s what Netflix’s new vertical video feed is like Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:00 Elon vs OpenAI Overview 00:07:00 Jury Selection Drama 00:12:00 Elon's Testimony Begins 00:23:00 Trial Implications 00:26:00 Microsoft and OpenAI Split 00:30:00 The AWS Deal 00:32:00 Consumer AI Backlash 00:41:00 AI Powered Ad Targeting 00:44:00 Enterprise AI Success Story 00:45:00 Widow's Bay Recommendation 00:46:00 Apple TV Quality Content 00:48:00 Coyote vs Acme 00:55:00 Steam Controller Review 00:57:00 Universal Remote Theory 01:01:00 Smart Glasses Problem 01:05:00 Wide Foldable Phones 01:09:00 Motorola Razr Ultra 01:12:00 ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 01:17:00 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:18:00 Jimmy Kimmel Controversy 01:25:00 FCC Open Meeting Response 01:26:00 News Distortion Rule Lawsuit 01:29:00 Router Ban Update 01:33:00 Taylor Swift Trademark Strategy 01:37:00 YouTube Likeness Protection 01:41:00 Netflix Clips Feature 01:44:00 The Clip Economy Shift 01:46:00 Streaming Services vs TikTok 01:49:00 Show Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elon Musk's case against OpenAI is heading to trial. Musk is almost certainly going to lose, but he might still get everything he wants from the fight. The Verge's Liz Lopatto explains how this spat made it this far, and where it's going next. After that, The Verge's Sean Hollister tells us about the latest products from Framework, including the company's coolest laptop yet — and a keyboard for couch potatoes. Finally, Sean helps David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected] !) about the Surface Go and other small PCs, which might be due for a comeback. Further reading: Musk vs. Altman is here, and it’s going to get messy Mark Zuckerberg lies about content moderation to Joe Rogan’s face A look at the evidence of Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Open AI Framework announces Laptop 13 Pro, ‘the MacBook Pro for Linux users’ Framework is building a better couch keyboard because everyone hates the Logitech one Framework’s first OCuLink eGPUs hack its laptop into a desktop PC Microsoft Surface Go review: a little goes a long way Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Rabbit R1 Returns 00:05:00 Musk vs OpenAI 00:07:00 What the Lawsuit Claims 00:11:00 Musk Motives and Remedies 00:16:00 Discovery Dirt and Strays 00:22:00 Altman Reputation Stakes 00:28:00 Risks for Musk and IPO 00:37:00 Framework Laptop Pro 00:41:00 Battery Life and Specs 00:43:00 Display Specs Upgrade 00:44:00 Battery And Memory Gains 00:45:00 Modular Upgrades Promise 00:50:00 Transparency And Community 00:53:00 Who This Laptop Is For 00:54:00 Linux First Developer Pitch 00:56:00 Pricing And Value 01:01:00 Couch Keyboard Upgrade 01:13:00 Vergecast Hotline Tiny Laptops 01:16:00 Arm Chip Revolution Explained 01:22:00 Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that we've had a few days to digest the Apple CEO succession news, Nilay and David get some help from Daring Fireball's John Gruber to discuss Tim Cook's legacy, the potential for change under John Ternus, and whether the Touch Bar actually could have been great. Then, Nilay and David react to some breaking news: Microsoft is going back to the Xbox. And everything is an Xbox now. Finally, in the lightning round, we have a round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, a very 2026 new microphone, a BMW we can't figure out, and Meta's new AI training tool: its employees. We’re also on video! Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Further reading: Behold the cursed 2027 BMW 7 Series interior (via Car and Driver) Tim Cook’s departure is the start of a new era at Apple Read Tim Cook’s letter to the Apple world as he departs as CEO Wearable health tech might be Tim Cook’s greatest legacy Who is Apple’s new CEO John Ternus? Tim Cook: “I am healthy. My energy is high, and I plan to be in this new role for a long time.” Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets a price cut but loses new Call of Duty games Microsoft says the ‘idea’ of an Xbox mobile store ‘is not dead’ Call of Duty never made much sense for Xbox Game Pass We found Microsoft’s amicus brief about the Xbox mobile game store. Variety: Trump’s FCC Wants Input on Whether ‘Transgender and Gender Nonbinary’ TV Programming Is ‘Appropriate’ for Children Anthropic’s most dangerous AI model just fell into the wrong hands Insta360 is putting screens on its next wireless mics to show logos or images Now Meta will track what employees do on their computers to train its AI agents --EPISODE RUNDOWN-- (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:01:00 Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO 00:50:00 Xbox rebrand 01:06:00 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:08:00 FCC targets "transgender and gender nonbinary" kids' TV 01:13:00 Mythos 01:21:00 BMW 7-Series' confusing interior 01:27:00 Insta360 mic with screen 01:30:00 Meta tracks employees Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We get a lot of questions about how we make The Vergecast. And why we make The Vergecast. And how we make money, and journalism, and everything. So every once in a while, we try to answer those questions! In this episode, David and Nilay are joined by The Verge's publisher, Helen Havlak, to talk about video podcasts, ads, subscriptions, Nilay's jackets, and much more. Curious about those video podcasts we discussed? Check us out on YouTube. Jealous of those Verge subscriptions we discussed? Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ad-free podcast feed . Have more questions for us? We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. --EPISODE RUNDOWN-- (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 David's late night stroll 00:02:00 Today's Vergecast is about The Vergecast 00:03:00 New verge.com website just dropped 00:09:00 Following feature insights 00:13:00 Open Social Web plans 00:25:00 Verge audience demographics 00:31:00 Monetization 00:48:00 Audio vs. video podcasts 00:54:00 Supporting The Verge 01:00:00 Old Verge video style 01:07:00 Verge alumni 01:12:00 Why is it called Brendan Carr is a Dummy? 01:14:00 Nilay's jackets 01:21:00 How has gadget blogging changed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in 15 years, Apple is getting a new CEO. Tim Cook is stepping down, and John Ternus is taking the biggest job at one of the biggest companies in the world. News this big can only mean one thing: emergency Vergecast! Nilay and David broke down the news, their immediate reactions, and what they think might be in store for Apple going forward. To watch our livestreams as they stream live, check us out on YouTube. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters and our ad-free podcast feed . We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The AI vibes continue to find all-time lows. David and Nilay open the show by talking through the absurd Allbirds pivot to AI, the attacks on Sam Altman, and the increasing divide between what AI companies say is inevitable and what people actually want. Then, the Hype Desk crew talks Coachella and RAMageddon, before David and Nilay catch up on the Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly suit and the increasing price of everything. In the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a dummy, satellite internet, brain-computer interfaces, and the Trump Phone. Further reading: Allbirds announced a switch from shoes to AI and its stock jumped 600 percent The Allbirds pivot to… meme stock? The attacks on Sam Altman are a warning for the AI world Sam Altman reportedly targeted in second attack Altman attack suspect proposed “Luigi’ing some tech CEOs.” Stanford’s AI study NYT: Half of Gen Z Uses AI, but Their Feelings Are Souring, Study Shows Reese Witherspoon on Threads on AI Ticketmaster is an illegal monopoly, jury finds A jury is about to decide the fate of Ticketmaster Microsoft counters the MacBook Neo with freebies for students YouTube Premium is getting pricier RAMageddon has come for Microsoft’s Surface Pro and Surface Laptop Meta blames RAM shortage for $100 Quest 3 price hike FCC’s Brendan Carr again blasts deals between NFL and streaming services The FCC just saved Netgear from its router ban for no obvious reason Netgear and the FCC have not responded to our emails. Did Neuralink make the wrong bet? Apple and Amazon are teaming up to challenge Starlink’s smartphone ambitions Point, Musk. Amazon’s Starlink competitor now has an airplane antenna. Amazon’s Starlink competitor Leo gets a new date The new Trump Phone design is here Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. --EPISODE RUNDOWN-- (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Allbirds Goes AI 00:06:00 From Shoes to Tech Hype 00:09:00 Altman Attacks and Backlash 00:13:00 Why AI Feels Threatening 00:18:00 Gen Z Polls and Trust Gap 00:29:00 Reese Witherspoon AI Pushback 00:35:00 Hype Desk Returns 00:36:00 RAM Apocalypse and Wikifeet 00:39:00 Coachella Livestream Era 00:43:00 Ticketmaster Monopoly Verdict 00:47:00 MacBook Neo Spurs Microsoft 00:49:00 OpenAI Clouds and Copilot Backlash 00:51:00 Windows vs Mac Value Shift 00:54:00 The Pricing Apocalypse Hits 00:55:00 Why YouTube Premium Costs More 01:02:00 Lightning Round 01:03:00 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:07:00 NFL Antitrust Exemption Fight 01:15:00 Amazon Buys Globalstar 01:22:00 FCC Router Ban Chaos 01:27:00 Trump Phone Gets Realer 01:31:00 Neuralink Bet 01:32:00 Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During the height of the cryptocurrency craze a few years ago, the actor Ben McKenzie found himself wondering why no one else was seeing what he was seeing. He joins the show to explain his yearslong attempt to understand Bitcoin and the crypto world, all of which is in his new documentary Everyone Is Lying to You For Money. (You can probably guess how he feels.) After that, The Verge's Victoria Song tells us about her testing of continuous glucose monitors, which have gone from medical device to influencer trend in some worrying ways. Finally, we answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected] !) about why all our gadgets seem the same these days. Vote for The Vergecast in the Webby Awards! A vote for The Vergecast is a vote that Brendan Carr is a dummy, that buttons are good, and that party speakers rule the world. Voting is open until April 16. https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/technology Further reading: Everyone is Lying to You for Money Low interest rates and loneliness: the origins of the pandemic crypto boom Continuous glucose monitoring made me continuously crazy Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. (Timestamps are approximate.) 00:00:00 Sprinkler Duty Intro 00:03:00 Ben McKenzie Crypto Journey 00:04:00 Is Crypto Really Money 00:09:00 El Salvador Reality Check 00:11:00 Could Crypto Ever Work 00:14:00 Crypto Culture 00:19:00 Casino Capitalism And Crime 00:23:00 Why Bitcoin Keeps Rising 00:30:00 CGMs Explained 00:32:00 FDA OTC And Wellness Boom 00:33:00 Government Push For Wearables 00:39:00 Longevity Wearables Boom 00:41:00 Why Try CGMs 00:44:00 Scary Readings Doctor Visit 00:47:00 Living in the Data 00:48:00 Apps Scores Calibration 00:51:00 Disordered Eating Spiral 00:54:00 No Consensus for Non Diabetics 00:57:00 Medication Tradeoffs 01:00:00 Wellness vs Medical Regulation 01:04:00 Using CGMs Thoughtfully 01:10:00 Vergecast hotline 01:11:00 Why Gadgets Got Bland 01:22:00 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a week filled with important news about important people, David and Nilay start the show with the biggest news of all: their silly tech projects. After some updates on iMac repurposing and vibe-coded productivity tools, the hosts turn to the state of OpenAI, and the big story from The New Yorker about whether we should trust CEO Sam Altman with the future of AI. After that, it's time for the lightning round, with the latest Brendan Carr is a Dummy shenanigans, and the New York Times' latest attempt to identify Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin. Is it, in fact, Adam Back? And does it even matter? Vote for The Vergecast in the Webby Awards! A vote for The Vergecast is a vote that Brendan Carr is a dummy, that buttons are good, and that party speakers rule the world. Voting is open until April 16. ⁠https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/technology⁠ Further reading: ⁠First photos of solar eclipse from Artemis II crew look almost too good to be real ⁠ ⁠Artemis II astronauts break a record, name a crater ⁠ ⁠Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted? | The New Yorker⁠ ⁠The vibes are off at OpenAI ⁠ ⁠Sam Altman is “unconstrained by truth.” ⁠ ⁠OpenAI’s AGI boss is taking a leave of absence ⁠ ⁠OpenAI made economic proposals — here’s what DC thinks of them⁠ ⁠CNN Defends Authenticity Of Iranian “Victory” Statement After Donald Trump Posts Irate Claim It Was A “Fraud”⁠ From The New York Times: ⁠Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? My Quest to Unmask Bitcoin’s Creator⁠ ⁠The latest Satoshi Nakamoto unmasking. ⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cookie banners — those pop-ups that appear on practically every webpage demanding you accept their tracking systems — are one of the most consistent low-grade annoyances of life online. But Kate Klonick, a professor and writer, argues they're actually much worse than that, and the only plausible solution is to get rid of them entirely. After that, The Verge's Allison Johnson tells us about her AI-enhanced Google Maps experience, and why the new Ask Maps feature has the potential to be both incredibly cool and incredibly creepy. Then, she helps David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email ⁠[email protected]⁠ !) about whether E Ink phones might solve all our problems. Vote for The Vergecast in the Webby Awards! A vote for The Vergecast is a vote that Brendan Carr is a dummy, that buttons are good, and that party speakers rule the world. Voting is open until April 16. ⁠https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/technology⁠ Further reading: ⁠Ban Cookie Banners: A Case Study in Tech Regulation by Kate Klonick⁠ ⁠Kate’s website⁠ ⁠Google Maps is getting AI-powered ‘Ask Maps’ feature and more immersive navigation ⁠ ⁠I let Gemini in Google Maps plan my day and it went surprisingly well ⁠ ⁠TCL’s new Nxtpaper phones have a dedicated button for maximum monochrome ⁠ ⁠Boox Palma 2 Pro review: one step forward, one step back ⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We love a ranking here on The Vergecast, and it’s time for the hardest one yet: David and Nilay compare notes on the 50 best products Apple has ever made, and see how their answers stack up to the many, many voters on The Verge this week. Before that, though, it’s time for a bit of AI news — surprise, it’s enterprise software! — and the comeback of the Hype Desk. After all that, and after the rankings, we do a round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, talk about the fediverse, and repurpose our old iMacs. Vote for The Vergecast in the Webby Awards! A vote for The Vergecast is a vote that Brendan Carr is a dummy, that buttons are good, and that party speakers rule the world. Voting is open until April 16. ⁠https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/technology⁠ Further reading: ⁠OpenAI’s big numbers: $122 billion funding round, 900 million weekly ChatGPT users. ⁠ ⁠Why OpenAI killed Sora ⁠ ⁠I think Google is taking a couple digs at OpenAI about Sora. ⁠ ⁠Apple’s third-party Siri Extensions could lead to an AI App Store. ⁠ ⁠Microsoft’s new ‘superintelligence’ game plan is all about business⁠ ⁠OpenAI acquires TBPN | OpenAI⁠ ⁠Apple turns 50: celebrating five decades of the tech giant ⁠ ⁠Everything is iPhone now ⁠ ⁠Steve Jobs and the greatest run of products in tech history ⁠ ⁠How the invention of QuickTime changed computers forever ⁠ ⁠The triumphs and failures of Apple without Steve Jobs ⁠ ⁠The Apple product that really changed the industry: the MacBook Air ⁠ ⁠Apple at 50: a visual history ⁠ ⁠The origin story of Apple’s long-running relationship with Foxconn ⁠ ⁠Apple’s long, bitter App Store antitrust war ⁠ ⁠Snazzy Labs' iMac - Studio Display Mod Guide⁠ ⁠Flipboard Surf launches social websites combining Bluesky, Mastodon, RSS, and more⁠ ⁠These Raspberry Pi price hikes are no joke ⁠ ⁠Today is the final day to save up to $150 on a PS5 before the price goes up ⁠ ⁠Sony temporarily suspends memory card sales due to shortages ⁠ ⁠The White House has an app now, and Trump wants you to report people to ICE on it ⁠ ⁠What’s inside the White House app? ⁠ Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Apple 50 week, so we've got an Apple-filled podcast. First, longtime Apple journalist Jason Snell joins the show to talk about the state of the company as a hardware maker, a software maker, a force for good in the world, and more. Then, blogger and entrepreneur Anil Dash explains why he's worried about the rise of video podcasts, and the role Apple could play to make it better. Finally, The Verge's Allison Johnson helps answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected] !) about swapping your phone for a watch. And a tablet. And some other things. Further reading: Rank the 50 best Apple Products⁠ ⁠Apple in 2025: The Six Colors report card⁠ ⁠Apple turns 50: celebrating five decades of the tech giant⁠ ⁠Apple II Forever!⁠ “Wherever you get your podcasts” is a radical statement. Why Apple’s move to video could endanger podcasting's greatest power Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We start with some important business: Nilay has a flight to catch, and is very worried he won't catch it. Also, it's Apple's 50th anniversary next week, and we're going to spend the week debating which Apple products are the best Apple products. (Head to the ad-free Vergecast feed to hear our selection show!) But mostly, this episode is about social media. In two key trials this week, juries found social platforms liable not for the content they display but for the actual structure and features of the platform. That could change the way social media companies act, and how users fight back. After that, it's time for the silliness of the router ban, the latest in the chatbot wars, and an update on what's happening with Grammarly's Expert Voices feature. Further reading: Rank your top 50 Apple products Verge subscribers, here’s how to set up ad-free podcasts The TSA is broken — is privatization next? What is ICE actually doing at American airports? Meta misled users about its products’ safety, jury decides Meta and YouTube found negligent in landmark social media addiction case Social media on trial: tech giants face lawsuits over addiction, safety, and mental health What it was like to watch grieving parents stare down Mark Zuckerberg in court A bombshell child safety leak changed Meta — for the worse Internal chats show how social media companies discussed teen engagement 2026 is the year of social media’s legal reckoning The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the US The United States router ban, explained FCC green-lights Nexstar's $6.2B merger with rival TV station owner Tegna Cox Communications not liable for pirated music, Supreme Court rules Confronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated me North Carolina man pleads guilty to AI music streaming fraud. Apple is testing a standalone app for its overhauled Siri OpenAI is planning a desktop ‘superapp’ This is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11 OpenAI just gave up on Sora and its billion-dollar Disney deal The age of piracy ended with LimeWire | Version History Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David is bored with his iPhone. Over the last few months, he has been testing every other phone he could get his hands on, from the Pixel to the Razr to the Unihertz Titan. And at the end of it all... David bought another iPhone. The Verge's Allison Johnson joins the show to recount some of her own phone-testing experiences, to litigate the quality of foldable and flippable phones, to debate Android vs. iOS, and ultimately to help David decide whether he actually bought the right phone. After all that, David answers a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected] !) about whether AI can help us figure out how to use our devices better. Or maybe just use them for us. Devices are too complicated. Further reading: Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) review: looking sharp Google Pixel 10 review: perfectly fine Apple iPhone 17 review: the one to get The iPhone Air makes a strong statement Why flip phones should be the future of smartphones Who needs a laptop when you have a folding phone? Gemini’s task automation is here and it’s wild Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com , subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed .We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices