The Vergecast

OpenAI announced its next big model, GPT-6 Astra, and also, by the way, that AGI is here now. Today on The Vergecast, we've got an all-star panel to break down the news of the week. First, senior AI reporter Hayden Field joins us to talk about our supposed AGI era and Nvidia's acquisition of Hugging Face. Then, our friend Joanna Stern pops in to talk about new Apple CEO John Ternus, old Apple CEO Tim Cook, and to, most importantly, speculate on the format of next week's Apple keynote. We wrap things up with a super-special lightning round from the IFA electronics show in Berlin. Senior reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy and editor Dominic Preston each pick out the five most interesting gadgets they saw at the show. And two more things: Vergecast producer Travis Larchuk pops in to tell his tale of identity theft woe and warn you that he isn't the one DMing you on Twitter to ask you to be on The Vergecast. Plus, Brendan Carr is a dummy. Further reading: OpenAI’s next big AI model has ‘entered the AGI era’ Researchers fear safety disaster ahead of OpenAI’s Astra release OpenAI delayed its new model’s development after the Hugging Face hack Nvidia is buying Hugging Face for almost $13 billion John Ternus sends first memo as Apple CEO teasing a ‘huge launch next week’ Phil Schiller is leaving his biggest jobs at Apple Siri AI is already changing how I use my iPhone IFA 2026: the biggest tech and gadget announcements This might be the fanciest toothbrush launch ever. Anker’s new MindBase is an AI-powered brain for your smart home This NAS company wants to run your local smart home I want to wrap myself in Hue’s new Liane rope lights Homey just made the smart home controller I hoped Apple would The robot butler dream doesn’t have legs Here’s Xiaomi’s wide 18 Fold I held the first truly bezel-free phone Acer’s new concept hardware is a gaming handheld with a keyboard Lenovo’s new MacBook Neo competitor comes in two sizes and seven colors Packard Bell is back, and more colorful than 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. 0:00 Welcome 00:46 Fake Travis warning 03:01 OpenAI's Astra model 05:45 Safeguards and delays 08:55 Opaque recurrence fears 13:08 What Astra does well 18:08 Access tiers and rollout 19:53 Nvidia buys Hugging Face 23:04 Is this really AGI 26:28 AGI vibes and Microsoft clause 32:17 Apple event preview 33:41 Ternus keynote politics 39:43 Keynote Vibes Shift 40:23 Tim Cook Era Review 44:56 Services And Fees Machine 47:15 Phil Schiller Steps Back 49:52 Event Predictions Fold And AI 55:43 Siri AI Real Use Cases 58:32 Smart Home Display Rumors 59:47 Bets And Keynote Structure 01:05:19 Brendan Carr Is A Dummy 01:09:23 IFA Lightning Round 01:10:49 Philips Hue Smart Lighting 01:11:03 Hue Rope Light Rave 01:11:44 Sticker Shock Pricing 01:13:03 Xiaomi Wide Foldable 01:15:43 Dyson Camera Toothbrush 01:20:31 Tecno Bezelless Concept 01:22:42 Local AI Smart Home Hub 01:27:09 MacBook Neo Clones 01:29:35 Homey Dial Controller 01:33:39 Acer DualPlay Handheld 01:36:19 Dreame Humanoid Robot 01:39:44 Packard Bell Revival 01:42:17 Wrap Up And Credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apple's big hardware event is coming next week. iPhones are the main draw, but senior reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy has her eyes on the rumors around — what else? — smart home gadgets. Andrew O'Hara from the Smart Home Insider podcast joins Jen to fire up the Rank-o-Matic and speculate on which rumored gadgets are most likely to see the light of day. Further reading: OpenAI’s next big AI model has ‘entered the AGI era’ Nvidia is buying Hugging Face for almost $13 billion Microsoft slashes Xbox Cloud Gaming to just 15 hours a month for Ultimate subscribers Microsoft opens up Xbox Cloud Gaming with new pay-as-you-go option 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

Data centers have been a staple of Loudoun County since the early dot-com boom, but recent expansions have left some residents wondering how much more the county can take. In this episode, guest host David Imel talks to Lauren Feiner about her recent article detailing the buildout of “Data Center Alley,” what it means for residents, and what other counties reeling with similar buildouts can learn from it. Further reading: Is this the future of America? 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

Elizabeth Lopatto recently wrote about Mark Zuckerberg's 6,500-word AI manifesto in her piece, " Mark Zuckerberg doesn't understand how to live ." Today, she joins guest host David Imel and senior wearables reviewer Victoria Song for a freewheeling discussion about what happens when we let AI make decisions for us. Further reading: Mark Zuckerberg doesn't understand how to live Dyson made a camera-equipped toothbrush that flosses for you Markiplier is now GoPro’s biggest shareholder GoPro has been acquired and is getting into ‘defense, government, robotics and aerospace’ John Ternus is now the CEO of Apple 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

Skyrocketing RAM prices put a spotlight on product longevity and repairability, which makes this a particularly apt time for Fairphone to launch its first smartphone sold directly in the United States. Today, David Imel talks to CEO Raymond van Eck about the Fairphone 6+, the company's goals of user-repairability and ethically-sourced materials, and what place AI has in the future of Fairphone. Further reading: ⁠Read Tim Cook’s final message to Apple staff as CEO⁠ ⁠Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell are suing Anthropic⁠ ⁠Google capitulates in Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario.⁠ ⁠MapQuest downloads surge after refusing to rename Lake Ontario.⁠ ⁠MapQuest knows this whole thing is ridiculous.⁠ ⁠Fairphone’s latest repairable phone is going on sale in the US⁠ ⁠The new Fairphone 6 Plus gets a perfect repairability score.⁠ ⁠The Fairphone 6 no longer feels like a compromise (except in the US)⁠ ⁠This environmentally conscious smartphone is finally coming to the US⁠ 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

This week Apple announced a Mac Mini made for AI and a Mac Studio made for AI, both with faster M6 and M5 Pro chips made for AI. But that's all an amuse-bouche to Sept. 9's (expected) main course: the long-awaited folding iPhone. Nilay Patel, Jake Kastrenakes, and David Imel run through all of this week's Apple news, including the most important story: a surprise discount on the legendary polishing cloth. Then, they react to Meta's settlement in its latest kids safety trial, geek out about Grand Theft Auto VI with the Hype Desk's Ashley Esqueda, check out the Pokémon Fitbit, and decide if Nvidia just saved the global economy. Further reading: ⁠File a comment with the FCC⁠ ⁠Apple announces September iPhone launch event⁠ ⁠Apple’s new M6 chip gets more cores and more AI compute⁠ ⁠Apple launches new Mac Studios with its ‘most powerful chip ever’ — the M5 Ultra⁠ ⁠Apple’s new Mac Mini has fresh M6 and M5 Pro chip offerings — and higher prices⁠ ⁠Apple’s ‘new’ polishing cloth is the same except $10 cheaper⁠ ⁠Meta agrees to heavy restrictions on teen users in major lawsuit settlement⁠ ⁠Meta is planning an ad blitz urging TikTok and YouTube to follow its lead.⁠ ⁠All the ways Instagram and Facebook are changing for teens⁠ ⁠Rockstar finally responds to ‘heartbreaking’ GTA 6 leaks⁠ ⁠Fierce Network: FCC opens comments on E-Rate as the program gets attacked in court⁠ ⁠Nvidia is about to be a hundred-billion-dollar-a-quarter company⁠ ⁠Panic is passing Playdate tariff refunds on to customers.⁠ 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. 0:00 Welcome to the Vergecast 01:26 Apple Mac AI Hype 02:26 Mac Mini Agent Craze 06:32 Mac Studio vs Nvidia 11:43 Price Hikes and Cloth 17:01 iPhone Event Invite 17:38 iPhone Fold Debate 21:30 Camera Crash Out 26:57 Meta Settlement Breakdown 28:59 First Amendment Fallout 36:59 Age Verification Push 39:30 Filter Rules and Loopholes 44:11 Will Teens Just Switch Apps 45:20 Reels Versus Shorts 46:35 Government Next Steps 47:39 Break And Reset 47:50 GTA VI Showcase 54:29 Leaks And Spoilers 57:12 Can GTA Save Games 01:00:51 GTA Online Money 01:02:04 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:03:45 E Rate Fight 01:08:46 Nvidia Earnings Hype 01:17:50 Pokemon Sleep Fitbit 01:22:41 Waymo Versus Tesla 01:28:34 Decoder And Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If, after months of increasingly dire RAMageddon warnings, you just now find yourself in the market for a new laptop... we're here to help. In the latest installment of our "RAMageddon Survival Guide," laptop reviewer Antonio G. Di Benedetto joins David Imel to offer his recommendations. Further reading: Apple announces September iPhone launch event Xbox announces disc-to-digital feature that digitizes your physical games Xbox’s limited-edition green Series X is already sold out Panic is passing Playdate tariff refunds on to customers A RAMageddon guide to back-to-school laptop shopping An okay laptop with 16GB of RAM is better than a nice laptop with 8GB, and this $520 HP OmniBook proves it This is my new favorite laptop, but thanks to RAMageddon the price already went up by $800 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

Two-hour usage limits, age verification, and a $17.1 billion payout: We're breaking down today's big settlement in Meta's kids online safety trial. Senior policy reporter Lauren Feiner and senior tech and policy editor Adi Robertson discuss how we got here, why Meta settled, and what this means for the ongoing conversation around teen mental health and social media. Further reading: Meta agrees to heavy restrictions on teen users in major lawsuit settlement 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 can be hard enough to set up smart home tech in a house or an apartment, but what about a dorm room? Jennifer Pattison Tuohy recently tested out some smart home tech when she dropped off her son for his freshman year at Clemson. Jen reports back to David Imel on how the gadgets stood up to the challenges of college Wi-Fi and rules against hanging things on the wall. Further reading: Apple’s new M6 chip gets more cores and more AI compute Apple’s new Mac Mini has fresh M6 and M5 Pro chip offerings — and higher prices Apple launches new Mac Studios with its ‘most powerful chip ever’ — the M5 Ultra Android is getting its own weird dots to cure car sickness WhatsApp is making it easier to ignore spam calls 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

Do you remember your first BlackBerry? Do you remember when that first BlackBerry launched? On this episode taped before David Pierce went on leave, producer Travis Larchuk leads David, Nilay, and The Verge’s Sean Hollister through a game of memory and history and a surprising amount of feelings tied to gadget launches. 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

Smart phone cameras have been getting better and better at capturing flawless, true-to-life images. But is that what the people really want? David Imel joins Nilay Patel and Jake Kastrenakes to talk through the Pixel 11's Camera Looks. They're Google's nod to the trend of retro digital and analogue cameras, and alter how a photo is processed on the sensor level. At the same time, its super zoom is still hallucinating text and making stuff up. Then it's a supersized Brendan Carr is a Dummy, with increasingly infuriating tales of how Brendan Carr is being a Dummy, culminating in the FCC's quest to make sure your internet connection remains slow. Plus, we talk through the confounding AirPods camera leak, the Fairphone, and YouTube's new method for counting views. Further reading: Google is making the Pixel cameras better by making them worse Revealed: FCC chair Brendan Carr’s close coordination with White House and rightwing media ABC sues the FCC over Trump and Carr’s campaign of threats FCC abolishes gigabit speed goal, suggesting it is unfair to slower technologies Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods appear in leaked video Meta glasses are a workplace menace Apple reportedly won’t launch AirPods with cameras until next year. Fairphone’s latest repairable phone is going on sale in the US YouTube is changing how it counts views to give the numbers a boost YouTube is reportedly offering channels “millions of dollars” not to cross-post videos on Netflix. 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

For better or worse, Amazon Alexa and Google Home's smart voice assistants have been imbued with the powers of generative AI. The promise is that you can use natural language with your smart speaker to adjust your thermostat, lock the doors, and find out what your pets have been up to. The reality is smart home voice assistants seem to be going through an identity crisis. Senior reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy invites Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel onto his own podcast to compare notes on life with Alexa Plus vs. Gemini for Home. Further reading: ⁠GTA VI keeps leaking ahead of its gameplay premiere⁠ ⁠I bought DJI’s banned camera — it was cheap and easy⁠ ⁠Does giving a camera wings dodge the FCC’s drone ban?⁠ ⁠Meta glasses are a workplace menace⁠ ⁠Google’s Pet Memory forgot who my cats are⁠ ⁠I tasked Alexa Plus with tackling my to-do list — it was hit or miss⁠ ⁠With Alexa Plus, Amazon finally reinvents its best product⁠ ⁠How AI broke the smart home in 2025⁠ ⁠I let Gemini watch my family for the weekend — it got weird⁠ ⁠Google built a great smart speaker, but Gemini isn’t ready for it⁠ ⁠Jony Ive’s first OpenAI gadget is reportedly a hockey puck-sized smart speaker⁠ 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

Pixel reviewers assemble: Senior reviewer Victoria Song leads a Vergecast roundtable with editors Dominic Preston and Cameron Faulkner to discuss the Pixel 11 / Pro / Fold and the Pixel Watch 5 . We discuss if HiLight is a LowLight, whether we miss the temperature sensor, and if the Watch 5’s GPS truly beats Garmin and Apple. And stay tuned for more camera discussion on Friday’s Vergecast. Further reading: Nvidia’s new financial strategy does not compute Amazon’s drones will soon deliver to nearly 500 US cities and towns | The Verge Framework gave its 12-inch laptop some hardware upgrades | The Verge This robot vacuum solves my kitchen stool problem The Pixel 11 isn’t the best Pixel of 2026, but it’s the smartest buy The Pixel 11 Pro is a great phone, no thanks to its flashiest new features Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era Google’s Pixel Watch 5 is promising — but it isn’t finished 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 feels right now like prices are going up, gadgets are getting worse, and everything is getting harder to buy. Leo Mastrolia, the Digital Doctor and the owner of a repair shop in New Jersey, is seeing this all play out first hand. For the second part of our conversation (and the first part of our RAMageddon survival guide), he tells us what he’s telling his clients about fixing their gadgets, managing upgrades, and surviving a parts crisis. Further reading: Elon Musk made flying even worse so Palantir could profit Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods appear in leaked video Fairphone’s latest repairable phone is going on sale in the US Spirit in the machine Polaroid’s new Pokémon collection captures memories, not Pikachus Digital Doctor Repairs 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

A few years ago, Leo Mastrolia started a gadget repair shop. Little did he know he’d eventually become known across the internet as The Digital Doctor, and would learn to fix practically every gadget you can think of. On this episode, which is part one of our conversation with Leo, he tells us about his journey as a gadget fixer, the growth of his social channels, and how right-to-repair fights and upgrade cycles are affecting life in his store. Further reading: ChatGPT’s Computer History tracks your clicks and keystrokes Amazon is trying to crush class action suits before they get started Uber partners with Zipline on Eats drone deliveries Disney D23 2026: Everything announced for Star Wars, Marvel, and more Digital Doctor Repairs 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

Have you seen Instagram's new logo? Meta debuted it right before we started recording, so of course David and Nilay needed to talk about it. Then, the hosts turn to Mark Zuckerberg's 6,500-word missive on the future of AI, and the problem with his idea that giving AI to everyone will fix everything. After that, it's time for Claude watermarks, Spotify AI personas, Brendan Carr, Flock, and much more. Further reading: ⁠This is Instagram’s new logo | The Verge⁠ ⁠ The Pepsi Universe PDF ⁠The Future is for Everyone⁠ ⁠Four takeaways from Mark Zuckerberg’s massive AI manifesto ⁠ ⁠Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t understand how to live ⁠ ⁠https://www.meta.com/design-at-meta/blog/⁠ ⁠Claude will apply invisible watermarks to AI text and images ⁠ ⁠‘If it was opt-in, nobody would opt in.’ ⁠ ⁠Spotify says it won’t recommend music from ‘AI Personas’ ⁠ ⁠Apple could help you prove your iPhone photos aren’t deepfakes | The Verge⁠ ⁠Guitar company D’Addario admits that AI music was used in a promotional video | The Verge⁠ ⁠Fender’s CEO seems to think your bandmates are just analog AI | The Verge⁠ ⁠Suno Unveils Download Song Caps for Free, Paid Tiers⁠ ⁠Brendan Carr is one firing away from an unchecked FCC⁠ ⁠YouTube is making it harder to earn money on YouTube ⁠ ⁠Flock CEO: ‘We got this one wrong’ ⁠ ⁠The first rival Android app store just arrived in the US Play Store ⁠ ⁠ChatGPT and Gemini both just passed 1 billion users ⁠ ⁠The sub-$100 phone market is disappearing. ⁠ 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. 0:00 Welcome and Parental Leave Announcement 00:43 Instagram Redesigns Their Logo 01:04 Why Companies Change Logos 03:37 Meta Design Blog Quotes 07:22 The 2008 Pepsi Universe Presentation 09:41 Blanding 10:37 Zuck’s AI Manifesto 13:29 Collective Action Problems 18:49 Superintelligence for All 20:57 Cybersecurity and AI Risks 22:22 China Chips and Distillation 27:48 Write the Law Challenge 32:30 Claude Text Watermarking 35:33 How The Watermark Works 39:34 Limits And Evasion Risks 41:54 Apple Marks Real Photos 46:03 Provenance Standards Fail 46:58 AI Music Backlash 49:39 Fender CEO AI Scandal 53:08 Where AI Fits In Music 59:13 Twitch Opt Out Training 01:01:35 The Lightning Round 01:02:55 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:04:55 Bans Don’t Work 01:05:56 Made in America Assembly 01:10:19 Gemini Claims a Billion Users 01:15:40 YouTube Partner Paywall 01:20:56 RAMageddon Cheap Phones 01:23:52 Flock Camera Backlash 01:27:19 Goodbyes and Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it time to fire the neighbor kid and hire a robot lawnmower instead? Last year I wrote that “in all but a few scenarios, robot lawnmowers still aren’t worth your money,” but there’s a new class of Roombas with razor blades ready to tackle bumpy terrain and dodge crazy chickens. Realtor and smart home reviewer Brandon Doyle joins me to talk about our experiences with 2026’s newest robotic mowers and to let you know if they're finally worth all that money. Further reading: It looks like Apple’s iPhone 18 really will skip the fall launch this year Flock CEO: ‘We got this one wrong’ Cats and dogs are missing meals after a popular smart feeder went down I finally found a robot lawnmower I’d trust with my yard I put four robot lawnmowers through a brutal backyard battle — and only one person got injured A hacker ran me over with a robot lawn mower The US government just banned Roombas 5 Robot Mowers, 90 Days, 1 Winner — My 2026 Picks (and One to Avoid) 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 just showed off its next generation of hardware, including the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel11 Pro Fold. (Whew, those names.) There's also the new Pixel Watch 5, the Pixel Tag, and a bunch of really interesting new ideas about smartphone cameras, GPS, and wellness. David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Victoria Song went live to talk about the state of Google's hardware, and whether there's anything worth upgrading for this year. Further reading: The 7 biggest announcements of Google’s Pixel 11 launch 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

Before Alexa and Siri, there was ELIZA. The first chatbot ever was the creation of a man named Joseph Weizenbaum, who built the bot almost as a magic trick — and then couldn't believe how many people fell for it. David Berry and Mark Marino, two members of a team dedicated to restoring and understanding ELIZA, explain how Weizenbaum created the virtual conversant, why he came to regret it, and what ELIZA can teach us about life in the AI age. Further reading: Why your Amazon order confirmation emails have become so unhelpful David Ellison’s ready to pull Paramount out of California What to expect from Google’s 2026 Pixel hardware launch event The ELIZA Archaeology Project Inventing ELIZA: How the First Chatbot Shaped the Future of AI From Eliza to ChatGPT: the 60-year history of chatbots 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 spent the last month vibe coding our own corners of the internet. The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes and Hayden Field join David to talk about their use of Gemini, Codex, and Claude Code to build 90s-themed personal websites, vegetable-sharing systems, and photo boards. It wasn't always easy, and we didn't get everything done, but with a little AI and a lot of prompting, we made it work. Further reading: Four takeaways from Mark Zuckerberg’s massive AI manifesto | The Verge The first rival Android app store just arrived in the US Play Store | The Verge Space mirrors could ruin astronomy — and your eyes | The Verge Claude has been having a moment — can it keep it up? | The Verge The vibe-coding AI future is both exciting and terrifying | The Verge Welcome to the personal software revolution | 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

Google underwent a big AI shakeup this week, leaving a lot of people wondering whether there are big problems on team Gemini. David and Nilay start the show by discussing what's next for Jeff Dean and Demis Hassabis, before diving into the ways in which Google and Reddit have become existentially, problematically dependent on one another. After that, we talk through Disney's plan to turn Disney Plus into an everything app, and all the reasons we think that's a terrible idea and a sign of big problems in the streaming biz. Finally, in the lightning round, Brendan Carr is still a dummy, Snapchat wants AI out of your feed, and BMW has a Spider-Man to sell you. Further reading: The messy politics behind Google’s big AI shakeup | The Verge Google just announced a major shakeup of its top AI leadership Google Assistant will disappear from your phone next month Can Reddit fend off a new wave of AI SEO spam? Reddit is introducing a new moderator: AI Reddit says it plans to “make changes” to old Reddit Bluesky CEO Toni Schneider wants to grow the platform and the protocol Disney says it’s ‘exploring’ adding a free tier to Disney Plus Disney gives TikTok creators official access to Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar characters Despite Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s success, the MCU is on shaky ground Disney Plus is about to go beyond streaming Paramount and WBD’s antitrust trial is set for March 2027 David Ellison promises he’s not going to ruin CNN. Almost half of HBO Max subscribers watch with ads. | The Verge Federal Communications Commission scraps limit on broadcast TV ownership SpaceX is barely Space and mostly X SpaceX is coming for T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon BMW’s in-car Spider-Man ad is villain behavior X product chief Nikita Bier is leaving after one year | The Verge Snapchat will no longer recommend ‘wholly AI-generated videos’ in its vertical video feed Snap reports 971 million monthly active users ahead of its Specs launch event on September 16th 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. 0:00 Cold Open 01:05 Google AI Shakeup Explained 03:24 Gemini Product Mess 05:29 Demis Hassabis and the AGI Split 14:06 Is Google Actually Behind? 15:29 AI Overviews Fail Parade 18:12 Gemini Users and Distribution 20:55 Google Plus Warning Signs 24:14 Reddit as Search Lifeline 27:35 AI Slop and Dead Internet 29:32 Google Buys Reddit Theory 33:51 Reddit Earnings Reality Check 35:40 Smoking Community Vibes 38:20 Disney Everything App 44:25 Time Spent Arms Race 47:39 Free Tier and Ads 52:08 Paramount Warner Deal Drama 01:00:23 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:11:51 Nikita Bier Leaves X 01:13:53 SpaceX Telecom Dreams 01:20:15 Snapchat Versus AI Slop 01:25:26 BMW In Car Ads 01:31:19 Wrap And Subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is the first feature film ever shot entirely with IMAX 70mm film cameras, which is apparently a very big deal, and why it's been harder than usual to get a ticket to see Matt Damon. And now that Spider-Man is moving onto IMAX screens, it may be even harder to get a ticket. Why is this 60-year-old technology suddenly the hottest thing in movies? The Verge's film and TV reporter Charles Pulliam-Moore joins senior reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy to compare the standard and IMAX versions of The Odyssey and talk us through the difference between IMAX, LieMAX, and Infinity Vision. Further reading: Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey will be the first movie shot entirely on IMAX film Don’t screw this up, Marvel The Odyssey turned me into an IMAX believer Google just announced a major shakeup of its top AI leadership Nintendo beats earnings thanks to US tariff refunds it won’t share with gamers Bose’s upgraded QuietComfort headphones add head-tracking immersive audio 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

You have questions. We have (some) answers! For this week's hotline episode, Travis Larchuk asks David your questions about E Ink screens, federated messaging, minimalist phones, AI wearables, and what we got wrong about wide foldables. And don't forget, you can always call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected] to get your questions in about anything and everything. Bonus points if it involves popping your two collars. Further reading: The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove ‘Max Ink Mode’ is back on TCL’s NXTPaper 70 Pro Daylight DC-1 tablet hands-on: an Android tablet with a new kind of screen Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like the future Disney says it’s ‘exploring’ adding a free tier to Disney Plus Disney Plus is about to go beyond streaming. Disney gives TikTok creators official access to Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar characters SpaceX is coming for T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon | The Verge Google Assistant will disappear from your phone next month 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

Everyone in AI is talking about open-weight models right now. Some see them as the ticket to faster, more efficient development; others see them as an economic threat; they're either a security risk or the only security solution, depending who you ask. The Verge's Robert Hart explains how open-weight models work, why they're suddenly at the center of discussions about AI safety, and whether the only way to stop a bad guy with AI is a good guy with AI. Further reading: The next Xbox could play every Xbox game ever made Microsoft is bringing Xbox 360 games to PC Apple briefly yanked Telegram from the App Store over CSAM violations These trackable batteries could help you locate a missing camera OpenAI’s rogue AI agent didn’t stop at hacking Hugging Face We’re running out of reasons to ignore AI safety Anthropic says Claude accidentally hacked real companies too China’s Alibaba takes another swipe at America’s AI supremacy OpenAI’s biggest threat may just be open AI Nvidia, Microsoft launch open AI security alliance — without OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic 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 the last few years, the trend in wearables has been all about screens. As many of them as possible. But now, companies like Whoop, Fitbit, and Garmin are creating new products that ditch the display entirely. The Verge's Victoria Song explains why no-screen is the new flex, why even the most quantified athletes might not want a display on their wrist, and whether Whoop and the Whoop Dupes are a sign of a broader trend Further reading: Spider-Man and The Odyssey are splitting up IMAX screens after a record-breaking weekend ) Truth Social’s priority access subscription goes live and raises corruption concerns. | The Verge Google’s Pixel 11 specs and price leak showing the impact of RAMageddon | The Verge Lenovo Googlebook leaks reveal a laptop and 2-in-1 tablet | The Verge The Fitbit Air takes a smarter approach to the AI health dumpster fire Garmin’s new screen-free fitness tracker doesn’t require a subscription Whoop wants everyone to give a whoop about the new Whoop 5.0 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 a big week for new ideas about computers, so David and Nilay spend some time on Samsung's vision for foldables and Mark Zuckerberg's vision for AI agents that do absolutely everything. Then they talk about the fallout from last week's OpenAI Hugging Face hack, and whether all this talk about AI safety will actually amount to anything. Finally, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the vertical video takeover, and the smashing success of the Ferrari Luce. Further reading: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like the future Apple launches ‘Upgrade’ program to lease new devices What’s the catch with the Apple Upgrade program? Mark Zuckerberg is planning a big push into personal AI agents Mark Zuckerberg wrote an op-ed about AI for the WSJ. We’re running out of reasons to ignore AI safety OpenAI reportedly didn’t notice its AI agent hacking Hugging Face until a week later. Nvidia, Microsoft launch open AI security alliance — without OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic OpenAI’s rogue AI agent didn’t stop at hacking Hugging Face AI leaders sign a statement asking the government to do something about automated AI Former FCC chairs blast Carr’s early renewal of ABC licenses as an ‘assault on free speech.’ ABC demands FCC drop its ‘punitive’ early license renewal of its stations Qualcomm is raising phone chip prices starting September 1st The Ferrari Luce reportedly already hit its 2026 sales target Samsung’s smartphone biz posts first ever loss, but profit still soars 1,300 percent on RAM . Facebook considers giving up and becoming TikTok YouTube Premium will include Peacock starting next year HBO Max is putting on vertical shorts 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 Baby Announcement 00:06:00 Galaxy Z Fold 00:12:00 Apple Leasing Program 00:15:00 Kill Switch Concerns 00:19:00 Zuck Agent Future 00:34:00 AI Safety Week Recap 00:42:00 Regulation Versus China 00:49:00 Winning AI Race 00:53:00 Security Arms Race 00:57:00 Brendan Carr Is a Dummy 01:07:00 Facebook Becomes TikTok 01:12:00 Ramageddon Price Hikes 01:16:00 HBO Max Shorts 01:23:00 Ferrari Luce Buzz 01:26:00 Wrap Up and Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new study from the Oversight Board found that leading AI systems are less likely to criticize authoritarian governments than democratic ones. It's a wild finding — but wait? Why is the Oversight Board studying systems from OpenAI and Anthropic in the first place? Suzanne Nossel, who sits on the board, joined us to discuss the findings and why the Oversight Board's future might involve looking at more than just Meta. Further reading: Zoox can now charge for rides in its steering-wheel-free robotaxis Spotify Running Mode helps match tunes to tempo Friend re-launches its AI pendant with a speaker that talks to you, for twice the price ⁠How Facebook undercut the Oversight Board⁠ 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 wide foldable is here, and it's glorious. The Verge's Dominic Preston has been reviewing Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, and joins the show to explain what this shorter, wider device gets right, what it's still missing, and why this looks like the right kind of foldable for most people. (Once the price comes down, anyway.) With a similar foldable iPhone likely coming soon, it's shaping up to be a fun year of foldables. Further reading: OpenAI’s rogue AI agent didn’t stop at hacking Hugging Face | The Verge The US is banning foreign robots | The Verge DoorDash is going airborne with new drone delivery division Willie Nelson is pushing back against data centers in his hometown. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like the future Huawei beats Samsung and Apple to market with the first wide foldable A wide foldable iPhone dummy emerges amid rumors of a delay So long, small phones 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 team at Light has been working on minimalist phones for more than a decade. Its last device had a lot in common with a smartphone, but the newest model, the Light Flip, is something very different. Light CEO Kaiwei Tang explains why Light made a flip phone, how the world's opinion of smartphones is changing, and whether you can cure your tech problems with more tech. Further reading: ⁠ Apple launches ‘Upgrade’ program to lease new devices ⁠ ⁠ Apple’s reported ‘HomePad’ may launch as early as October ⁠ ⁠ X Money is launching in the US starting today ⁠ ⁠The Light Flip is a minimalist flip phone with a point to prove⁠ ⁠Light Phone III review: everything in moderation⁠ ⁠The high hopes of the low-tech phone⁠ ⁠There’s no perfect minimalist phone — yet⁠ ⁠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

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