The Vergecast

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 ⁠ <a href="htt

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 Futu

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 <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge

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 href=

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 <a hre

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, bu

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:

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  <a href="https://www.theverge.com

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  <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/912921/meta-qu

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 Medicatio

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. ⁠ </

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 ⁠ <a href="https:/

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  <a href="https://www.

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

David and Nilay start the show by exploring the increasing disconnect between the people who make AI products, and the people who keep saying they don't want them. (Or, at least, don't want to pay for them.) The AI industry is starting to retrench to a business-first approach, because there's simply no killer app for it yet. Speaking of no killer apps! Allison Johnson then joins the show to talk about the shockingly short life of the Samsung TriFold, and her bizarre journey to try and review the now-dead foldable. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the fate of the metaverse, and some important internet debunking. Further reading: ⁠OpenAI cuts back on “side quests.” ⁠ ⁠OpenAI’s adult mode will reportedly be smutty, not pornographic ⁠ NYMag: ⁠Should You Be Able to Have Sex With ChatGPT?⁠ ⁠I think VCs are starting to panic about the lack of *broad* consumer | TikTok⁠ ⁠For the second time this week we have VCs vocalizing their frustration | TikTok⁠ ⁠Poll: Majority of voters say risks of AI outweigh the benefits⁠ ⁠How Americans View AI and Its Impact on Human Abilities, Society | Pew Research Center⁠ ⁠Samsung discontinues its Galaxy Z TriFold after just three months ⁠ ⁠Oppo’s nearly creaseless foldable isn’t launching in Europe after all ⁠ From last year: ⁠Just look at Huawei’s trifold phone⁠ ⁠This is not a fly uploaded to a computer⁠ ⁠ChatGPT did not cure a dog’s cancer⁠

A new era of software development is upon us. Career coders are no longer writing code, but rather managing teams of agents that do the work on their behalf. You can Claude Code your way through seemingly just about any problem. So what does that mean for the software we use, and the people who make it? Paul Ford, a writer and technologist who both writes about code and manages a team of coders, joins the show to explain his somewhat conflicted excitement about the new crop of AI tools, and his worries about what they’ll do to the world. After that, The Verge’s Dominic Preston helps answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email ⁠[email protected]⁠!) about the differences between the US phone market and the global phone market, and whether US buyers are missing anything important. Further reading: ⁠The A.I. Disruption Has Arrived, and It Sure Is Fun⁠ ⁠Claude has been having a moment — can it keep it up?⁠ ⁠How the creator of Claude Code sees the future of AI⁠ ⁠Ftrain⁠ From Bloomberg: ⁠What Is Code?⁠ ⁠Xiaomi, unlike Google and Samsung, thinks camera hardware comes first⁠ ⁠Oppo’s new foldable isn’t quite creaseless, but it’s pretty damn close⁠ ⁠Honor’s Robot Phone is a bad robot, interesting camera, maybe a friend⁠ ⁠Vivo and Oppo’s telephoto extender comes to iPhone⁠ ⁠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 and Nilay bought new computers this week, as the MacBook Neo turned out to be a surprisingly great cheap Apple laptop. The hosts discuss their experiences with the machines, from the processor to the keyboard to the mess that is MacOS Tahoe. After that, they talk about the future of Xbox, Project Helix, and what it might mean for every gaming PC to become an Xbox... and for the Xbox to become a gaming PC. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the latest on Paramount and Warner Bros, Grammarly's sloppelgangers, and more. Further reading: MacBook Neo review: the Mac for the masses   Asus chief says Macbook Neo's affordable pricing came as a shock to the entire PC market — compares $599 notebook to a tablet and content-consumption device The MacBook Neo is surprisingly easy to disassemble and repair. From 2007: Ballmer Laughs at iPhone Apple Studio Display XDR review: a great, but expensive, pro option The iPhone 17E is good, but you probably shouldn’t buy it  iPad Air review 2026: the M4 and other chip bumps make a difference  Apple is going high-end with new ‘Ultra’ products next  iPhone Fold rumor: iPad-like multitasking, but no iPad apps and no Face ID  Microsoft’s next Xbox, Project Helix, won’t reach alpha until 2027  Microsoft’s ‘Xbox mode’ is coming to every Windows 11 PC  Microsoft says you should build next-gen Xbox games by building them for PC.  <a href="https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/03/fcc-chair-blasts-amazon-after-it-criticizes-spacex-megacons

Last week, it appeared the US Department of Justice was off to a strong start in its antitrust case against Live Nation Ticketmaster. Then, this week, the two sides surprised everyone by settling. The Verge's Lauren Feiner joins the show to explain the stakes of the case, the facts of the settlement, and why things aren’t entirely over just yet. Then, The Verge’s Hayden Field catches us up on what’s happening between Anthropic, OpenAI, and the Department of Defense. OpenAI got the contract, but it looks like Anthropic might be the real winner here. If the company’s business can survive, that is. Finally, David answers a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected]!) about whether you should get a foldable phone. And why foldable phones even exist. Further reading: Live Nation settles government antitrust suit — that probably doesn’t include a breakup How Live Nation allegedly terrorized the concert industry Did Live Nation punish a venue by taking Billie Eilish away?  Inside Anthropic’s existential negotiations with the Pentagon  We don’t have to have unsupervised killer robots  How OpenAI caved to the Pentagon on AI surveillance  Trump orders federal agencies to drop Anthropic’s AI  Iran Strikes: Anthropic Claude AI Helped US Attack. But How Exactly? - Bloomberg My favorite folding phone is the one that doesn’t exist yet  Google Pixel Fold review: closing the gap Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) review: looking sharp</a

In 1997, David Hampton and Caleb Chung took one look at a Tamagotchi and decided they could bring the virtual pet craze into the real world. Their robotic companion, Furby, packed a bunch of advanced technology into a small, adorable, often annoying package. But for all the irritation it caused (Furby famously had no on-off switch) there was a surprising amount of thoughtful philosophy in its design. The Verge’s Vee Song, Sean Hollister and host David Pierce are joined by Coco the Furby to discuss the lore behind the hottest toy of 1998. ⁠Geocities chat with Furby co-inventor David Hampton⁠ 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

While most phone makers work hard to ensure their products don’t start fires, Oukitel made a phone that starts fires on purpose. This week on The Vergecast, Dominic Preston joins Editor-in-Chief Nilay Patel to wrap up all the weird and wonderful phones he and the team saw at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Then, Sean Hollister takes us through Google and Epic’s enemies-to-lovers saga: A secret $800 million deal, a non-disparagement agreement, and something about the metaverse for some reason. Plus: Nilay just had the best home movie experience of his life thanks to the Kaleidescape 8TB solid-state server, Dom’s charging his smart phone on a mini racecar, and Sean delivers some disappointing news about the Lego smart brick we were all rooting for. And Brendan Carr is still being a dummy. Further reading: ⁠Nothing is finally covering up with the slim, metal Phone 4A Pro⁠ ⁠Nothing couldn’t wait to show off the Phone 4A⁠ ⁠Nothing’s Headphone A are something worth considering⁠⁠ Honor’s Robot Phone is a bad robot, an interesting camera, and maybe your friend⁠ ⁠Honor claims its Robot Phone will launch later this year⁠ ⁠Honor’s Magic V6 is the first foldable with an IP69 rating⁠ ⁠Xiaomi’s Leica Leitzphone mostly earns the name⁠ ⁠Xiaomi, unlike Google and Samsung, thinks camera hardware comes first⁠ ⁠Xiaomi 17 is a small(ish) phone with a big(ish) battery⁠ ⁠Here’s the upgrade to my favorite phone camera of last year⁠ ⁠Tecno is doing a modular phone (again)⁠ <ul

Apple released a bunch of new iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Studio Displays this week. The Verge’s Nilay Patel and David Pierce tried them all this morning, and are back to share their thoughts live. Further reading: All the news about Apple’s MacBook Neo, iPhone 17E, 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

Most mainstream phone options are kind of the same, year in and year out — but that doesn’t mean there’s no innovation to be found. The Verge’s Allison Johnson is at Mobile World Congress, and joins the show to report on all the modular phones, robot phones, small phones, big phones, and (alas) 6G phones set to hit the market this year. After that, The Verge’s Jess Weatherbed explains the phenomenon of the gadget strap, and makes the case that they’re an increasingly useful accessory as our phones become even more important to our daily lives. (Yes, even if you have pockets.) Finally, The Verge’s Jay Peters helps David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected]!) about whether the metaverse, however you want to define it, is ever going to be realized. Further reading: Oh great, here comes 6G  Honor claims its Robot Phone will launch later this year  Lenovo made a Franken-laptop with modular ports and a second screen  Vivo’s next phone will launch with a professional camera rig  Tecno’s latest concept phone is lit by neon  Honor’s Magic V6 is the first foldable with an IP69 rating  The Motorola Razr Fold is shaping up to be pure flagship Xiaomi’s super-slim power bank costs extra in orange.  Honor’s thinnest tablet doesn’t come cheap.  Peak Design has wearable gadget straps for people who hate bags  Apple’s misunderstood crossbody iPhone strap might be the best I’ve seen  Meta confirms Reality Labs layoffs and shifts to invest more in wearabl

Samsung just launched its newest phones, the Galaxy S26 lineup, and wow is it full of Vergecast stories. There’s the very cool new Privacy Display, which seems genuinely useful; there’s the AI-powered camera, which seems like a disaster waiting to happen; and there’s the new agentic AI in Android, which Google and Samsung might be positioned to actually pull off. After talking through all the new stuff, Nilay and David discuss the recent executive shakeup at Xbox, and try to figure out why Microsoft just can’t win in games. Finally, in the lightning round, it’s time for Brendan Carr is a dummy, some truly remarkable charts, and much more. Further reading: ⁠Samsung Unpacked 2026: live updates from the Galaxy S26 ⁠⁠announcement event ⁠ ⁠Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus hands-on: More of the same ⁠ ⁠Samsung AI photos⁠ ⁠Google Gemini can book an Uber or order food for you with new agentic AI features ⁠⁠Google and Samsung just launched the AI features Apple couldn’t with Siri⁠ ⁠I’m super impressed with the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new Privacy Display ⁠ ⁠Samsung announces Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro at Unpacked 2026⁠ ⁠Xbox shakeup: Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are leaving Microsoft ⁠ ⁠Xbox chief Phil Spencer is leaving Microsoft ⁠ ⁠Read Xbox chief Phil Spencer’s memo about leaving Microsoft ⁠ ⁠Sarah Bond is leaving Xbox ⁠ ⁠Read Xbox president Sarah Bond’s memo about leaving Microsoft. ⁠ <a href="https://www.theverge.com/te

Few AI products have found the kind of product-market fit we’ve seen from Claude Code. On the eve of the product’s first anniversary, Anthropic’s Boris Cherny explains why Claude Code is so powerful, all the work left to do, and why he no longer writes any code himself. After that, The Verge’s Hayden Field joins the show to talk about how we should think about giving our data (and our computers) to AI, even when it seems useful. Finally, The Verge’s Allison Johnson helps David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (866-VERGE11) about whether you should go buy a phone, like, right now. Further reading: Claude Code is suddenly everywhere inside Microsoft Claude has been having a moment — can it keep it up? The AI security nightmare is here and it looks suspiciously like lobster  OpenClaw’s AI ‘skill’ extensions are a security nightmare  Humans are infiltrating the social network for AI bots  Anthropic connects Claude to Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive  MCP extension unites Claude with apps like Slack, Canva, and Figma  The RAM shortage is coming for everything you care about  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

Once again, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and his bad ideas about free speech have rankled a late night host. And once again, Nilay and David talk through what the equal-time rule actually means, why organizations keep caving, and why it's apparently up to people like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel to fight back. After that, the hosts discuss the facial recognition feature Meta hopes to launch for its smart glasses, plus the gadgets we're likely to see Apple launch in the couple of weeks. In the lightning round, we get some bleak news on Tesla's self-driving skills, a robovac security disaster, and the future of Warner Bros. Further reading: Why CBS Didn't Broadcast Stephen Colbert's Interview With James Talarico Stephen Colbert says CBS banned him from airing this James Talarico interview  Why Everyone's Talking About Stephen Colbert, CBS, The FCC And James Talarico Meta reportedly wants to add face recognition to smart glasses while privacy advocates are distracted From the NYT: Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses Apple’s doing something on March 4th  Apple is reportedly planning to launch AI-powered glasses, a pendant, and AirPods  Apple starts testing end-to-end encrypted RCS messages on iPhone  Apple’s Podcasts app will let you ‘seamlessly’ switch between audio and video shows  Looks like we can expect more AI from the Galaxy S26 camera. | The Verge Google announces dates for I/O 2026  Western Digital says it’s “pretty much soldout” for 2026.  <a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/879845/valve-steam-deck-oled-ou

The Verge's Allison Johnson has recently been doing the unthinkable: she's been leaving her laptop at home. Allison joins the show to explain how she turned her Samsung foldable into a useful computer, and why it feels so good to do so. Then, Sportico's Jacob Feldman joins the show to talk about the Winter Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the overall state of sports streaming in 2026. (Unfortunately, it's all still very complicated.) Finally, David answers a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected]!) about whether flip phones might have a future in an AI world. Further reading: YouTube TV reveals pricing for its sports, news, and entertainment packages From Sportico: 2026 Sports Tech: Amazon vs. Youtube vs. ESPN vs. Netflix vs. Tiktok Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review: stunning, bendy, and spendy Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) review: looking sharp Logitech’s Keys-To-Go 2 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

Did you see Ring's Super Bowl ad and see happy puppies reunited with their owners? Or did you see the seeds of a complete, always-on surveillance nightmare coming for us all? David and Nilay discuss which is the right answer, why so many people don't want to trust tech companies, and why Ring might not care much about the difference. After that, the hosts discuss the ads coming to ChatGPT, the surprising number of AI executives quitting their jobs and issuing dire warnings on the way out, and the fake ad for OpenAI gadgets. In the lightning round, it's time for an extra long Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the latest Ferrari EV, the future of Siri, and more. Further reading: Jeffrey Epstein’s digital cleanup crew  Jeffrey Epstein might not have created /pol/, but he helped carry out its mission Amazon Ring’s lost dog ad sparks backlash amid fears of mass surveillance  Wyze is sticking it to Ring Sen. Markey calls on Amazon to “discontinue” Ring monitoring features Ring’s new Search Party feature is on by default; should you opt out? Ring launches upgraded cameras with Retinal Vision 4K recording What the Guthrie case reveals about your ‘deleted’ doorbell footage  FBI releases recovered footage from Nancy Guthrie’s Nest cam  OpenAI’s first hardware slips to 2027 OpenAI’s supposedly ‘leaked’ Super Bowl ad with ear buds and a shiny orb was a hoax  Two more xAI co-founders are among those leaving after the SpaceX merger  <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/87

The Trump Phone is real! Ish! The Verge’s Dom Preston has seen a T1 on a video call, that we can say for sure. Dom joins the show to explain what’s new about the phone, whether it has a chance to be a decent device, and why it’s taken so long for Trump Mobile to ship the thing. After that, The Verge’s Hayden Field explains the excitement around OpenClaw and Moltbook, and whether either one is a big moment for the AI industry. Finally, The Verge’s Andy Hawkins helps us answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (866-VERGE11) about whether, and when, Tesla might get out of the car business altogether. Further reading: This is the Trump Phone⁠ ⁠The Trump Phone no longer promises it’s made in America⁠ ⁠600,000 Trump Mobile phones sold? There’s no proof.⁠ ⁠OpenClaw: all the news about the trending AI agent ⁠ ⁠OpenClaw’s AI ‘skill’ extensions are a security nightmare ⁠There’s a social network for AI agents, and it’s getting weird ⁠Humans are infiltrating the social network for AI bots ⁠Tesla discontinuing Model S and Model X to make room for robots⁠ 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 new tranche of Jeffrey Epstein’s emails makes one thing painfully clear: Epstein was a central figure in the lives of a lot of big names in tech, and had influence on a surprising number of companies and executives. David and Nilay talk through what we’ve learned from the new emails so far. Then they turn to Anthropic’s spicy new Super Bowl ads about... ads, which caused a big reaction from OpenAI (which is betting big on ads). They also discuss this week’s antitrust hearing about Netflix’s purchase of Warner Bros., the latest in Brendan Carr is a Dummy, Google Home’s big buttons upgrade, and much more. Further reading: Here's how Epstein broke the internet Former Windows 8 boss recruited Epstein to help negotiate his messy Microsoft exit Jeffrey Epstein arranged a meeting with Tim Cook for the former head of Windows The Epstein files  Google co-founder Sergey Brin visited Epstein’s private island and traded emails with Ghislaine Maxwell. It turns out Elon Musk didn’t exactly ‘refuse’ the invite to Jeffrey Epstein’s island.  Will Elon Musk’s emails with Jeffrey Epstein derail his very important year?  Bill Gates says accusations contained in Epstein files are ‘absolutely absurd' Jeffrey Epstein was permanently banned from Xbox Live  ‘We’ve basically funded an elite global pedophile ring since 2015.’  Anthropic says ‘Claude will remain ad-free,’ unlike an unnamed rival Anthropic’s blog post: Claude is a space t

AI companies want all the data, everywhere, to make their models bigger and better. That means a lot of questions about piracy and copyright, and at least in one case it means Anthropic systematically destroying countless books just to feed them to the model. The Washington Post's Will Oremus joins the show to explain how that worked, why Anthropic, Meta, OpenAI and others are doing it, and what the law has to say. Then, Puck's Julia Alexander helps David figure out whether Netflix is serious about showing movies in theaters, and what theaters need to do to survive in the entertainment business going forward. Further reading: From The Washington Post: Anthropic ‘destructively’ scanned millions of books to build Claude Anthropic wins a major fair use victory for AI — but it’s still in trouble for stealing books Meta’s AI copyright win comes with a warning about fair use Did AI companies win a fight with authors? Technically From Puck: Why Netflix Needs Warner Bros. Welcome to the big leagues, Netflix 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 covering what's happening in Minnesota, and the killing of Alex Pretti, all week on The Verge. To begin this episode, Nilay explains why — and why so many others seem to feel the same way right now. After that, the hosts talk about the CEO-studded screening of Melania Trump's documentary last weekend, the disastrous public appearance from Tim Cook, and whether Cook and other CEOs have any other option but to capitulate to the Trump administration. Then it's time for some gadgets: we talk about the super-foldy, super-expensive Samsung Galaxy  Z Trifold, the Clawdbot / Moltbot phenomenon, and whether Google can finally put Chrome OS and Android together the right way. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a dummy, Tesla's anti-car pivot, Apple's design hires, and more. Further reading: On the ground in Minneapolis after the killing of Alex Pretti  I grew up with Alex Pretti  Creators and communities everywhere take a stand against ICE  It doesn’t matter if Alex Pretti had a gun  Why won’t anyone stop ICE from masking?  Tim Cook, Andy Jassy, and AMD CEO Lisa Su are at the White House for a VIP screening of the Melania doc. Tim Cook had ‘a good conversation’ with Trump about deescalation  Cook in 2020: Speaking up on racism From The New York Times: Amazon’s $35 Million ‘Melania’ Promotion Has Critics Questioning Its Motives From The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Melania’ Set for a $3 Million Opening Despite Amazon’s $35 Million Marketing Push Here’s Tim Cook hanging out with accused rapist Brett Ratner at the Melania screening <a href="https://www.theverge

Like so many others, we’re still reeling from the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. To open the show, we talk with Adi Robertson about how videos of the incident moved around social platforms, how even well-intentioned people got confused by AI imagery, and what we’ve learned about the state of misinformation. Then Adi explains the new TikTok, which is both the same and very different from the old TikTok. The newly US-centric version of the app has had some switching pains so far, and the changes may only be just beginning. After that, it’s time for a hard pivot, as Vulture’s Nick Quah joins the show to talk about Netflix’s entry into podcasts — and whether what Netflix is doing can even be called “podcasts” anymore. Finally, David answers an old Vergecast Hotline question that got him thinking about all the ways we hold our phones to make calls, and which one is the best.  Further reading: It doesn’t matter if Alex Pretti had a gun The day of the second killing TikTok USA is broken Everything (Including Netflix) Will Become YouTube This Year It’s finally time to retire the word ‘podcast’ 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

Nilay owns a Sony TV. He loves his Sony TV, and he's a little sad that it appears this era of Sony TVs is ending. He and David talk through the news of a new joint venture between Sony and TCL, before digging into OpenAI's new-fangled plan to make money (spoiler alert: it's ads!), and some new news about an AI gadget Apple may or may not be working on. Then it's time for the lightning round: Brendan Carr, Netflix, the Trump Phone, and much more. Further reading: The TikTok deal could finally close this week. Epic and Google have a secret $800 million Unreal Engine and services deal Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL  What a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVs OpenAI’s 2026 ‘focus’ is ‘practical adoption’  OpenAI releases a cheaper ChatGPT subscription  Ads are coming soon to ChatGPT, starting with shopping links  Opinion | A.I. Is Real. But OpenAI Might Still Fail.Apple is reportedly working on an AirTag-sized AI wearable  Apple is turning Siri into an AI bot that’s more like ChatGPT  FCC Targets Colbert and Kimmel in New Crackdown on Late-Night TV - The New York Times Bureau Provides Guidance on Political Equal Opportunities Requirement | Federal Communications Commission Free TV startup Telly only had 35,000 units in people’s homes last fall Microsoft wants to build 15 data centers

There’s a new biggest name in EVs, and if you live in the US, you pretty much can’t buy one. But before we get to that, we have some stuff to catch up on: The Verge's Hayden Field joins us for a round of “Big Deal Medium Deal Small Deal” with some AI news, from the launch of ChatGPT Health to the recent viral moment for Claude Code. After that, The Verge’s Andy Hawkins joins the show to explain how BYD recently eclipsed Tesla as the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles, what makes its cars so desirable, and when you, too, might be able to buy a Dolphin Surf. Finally, David tackles a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected]!) about giving your kids iPads instead of iPhones, and whether all screen time is created equal. Further reading: Car influencers love Chinese EVs — and China loves them back Tesla’s fourth quarter sales fell a lot more than expected From Inside EVs: A Guide To BYD, The Chinese Automaker That Just Surpassed Tesla Anthropic wants you to use Claude to ‘Cowork’ in latest AI agent push Anthropic shakes up C-suite to expand its internal incubator OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect their medical records Google brings buy buttons to Gemini and AI search Grok is undressing children — can the law stop it? Google is taking over your Gmail inbox with 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 <a href="

Nearly two years ago, Apple showed off what an AI-powered Siri might do. That Siri never materialized, but thanks to a deal with Google for its Gemini tech, it might finally have a chance to work. David and Nilay discuss the ins and outs of the deal, and what it might mean for both Apple's and Google's ambitions in AI. (They also talk about the onslaught of new lawsuits from publishers related to Google's adtech antitrust case, including from our parent company Vox Media. Disclosure is our brand.) After that, they talk about Grok's horrific deepfake problem on X, and why everyone involved deserves the blame. Then it's time to pour one out for VR and the metaverse, which is losing steam as Meta loses interest and continues to pivot to AI. RIP Supernatural, a surprise hit of an exercise app! Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the latest Paramount / Warner / Netflix drama, the Trump Phone, and the Digg reboot. Further reading: The Atlantic, Penske, and Vox Media have all sued Google for antitrust violations Apple picks Google’s Gemini AI for its big Siri upgrade What Apple and Google’s Gemini deal means for both companies Google’s Gemini AI will use what it knows about you from Gmail, Search, and YouTube  Why Google Gemini looks poised to win the AI race over OpenAI  A “conscious decision” from OpenAI.  X hasn’t really stopped Grok AI from undressing women in the UK  Advocacy groups demand Apple and Google block X from app stores  UK pushes up a law criminalizing deepfake nudes in response to Grok X claims it has stopped Grok from undressing people, but of course it hasn’t   <a h

January brings two things in Vergecast-land: CES, and New Years' Resolutions. We start this episode with a dive into the story of this year's biggest tech show, the Lego Smart Brick, which is either a clever way of thinking about creativity or the end of creativity as we know it. Sean Hollister explains how the Smart Brick works, and how Lego can make sure it ends the right way. Then, Platformer's Casey Newton discusses his productivity system, his adventures in Claude Code, and how you too can make yourself a little more productive this year — with or without AI. Further reading: Lego announces Smart Brick, the ‘most significant evolution’ in 50 years Lego’s Smart Bricks aren’t just an experiment I played with the Lego Smart Brick From Platformer: The project that turned me into a Claude Code believer From Platformer: What I learned about productivity this year 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 theme of CES 2026 is gadgets. It's always gadgets. This year more than most, though, the world's biggest tech show is about how fast the hardware world is moving — and how much work the software, and the AI, have to do to catch up. On stage live at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas, David and Nilay talk through some of the biggest news of the week, from robots to laptops to AI cuddle buddies, to see what's really going to matter in tech this year. 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

2026 is just beginning, and it's already time for the biggest gadget event of the year. As the Verge team heads to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show, David and Nilay run through as many of the newly announced products as they can. There are robots, art TVs, phones, more robots, smart Legos, smart home gizmos, and still more robots. Some of this stuff will ship, and might even be a big hit. Some of it, well, won't. But it's all an interesting look into what's happening in tech right now.Also: if you're in Vegas for CES, come see us live! We'll be at the Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday, January 7th, for live recordings of Decoder and The Vergecast, and we'd love to see you there. Further reading: ⁠This robot companion is a cameraman for your pet ⁠ ⁠LG says its CLOiD home robot will be folding laundry and making breakfast at CES ⁠ ⁠SwitchBot brings a humanoid home robot to CES ⁠ ⁠You can’t buy Zeroth’s WALL-E robot in the US, but you can get its cousin ⁠ ⁠This startup brought WALL-E to life and will also sell you WALL-E’s weird cousin⁠ ⁠Kicking Robots, by James Vincent⁠ ⁠The Clicks Power Keyboard is also a backup battery for your phone ⁠ ⁠The Clicks Communicator is a BlackBerry for your phone ⁠ ⁠I just want to keep unfolding the Samsung Z TriFold ⁠ ⁠The Aliro smart lock standard for NFC and UWB unlocking will launch this year ⁠ ⁠Lutron adds smart wood blinds to its Caséta line. ⁠ ⁠Bosch’s fancy coffee machine is getting Alexa Plus ⁠ ⁠The new Ultraloq smart lock uses

The iPhone 4 was one of the best iPhones ever — and definitely the most dramatic iPhone ever. It was lost in a bar in California, sold to Gizmodo, and published for the world to see months before its launch. The phone itself had a bunch of important new features, and one that spawned Antennagate. In this episode, David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and longtime tech columnist Walt Mossberg tell the whole story of the phone, its legacy, and its place in tech blog history. If you like the show, ⁠⁠subscribe to the Version History feed⁠⁠ to make sure you get every new episode. ⁠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 world runs on RAM, and RAM is harder than ever to get your hands on. What’s happening here? Every year, the Vergecast team spends the holiday season going deep on a single spec or technology, and this year it’s all about Random Access Memory. (No, that’s not a Daft Punk album.) Nilay, David, and Sean Hollister explain what RAM is, why it matters, how it became a precious commodity, and what it means for the future of chips around the world. We also play some games. We do… okay at the games. Happy Holidays! 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 didn't invent the concept of smart glasses, but it was one of the first companies to actually put them on people's faces. It was a revolution, and also a problem: Google made face computers extremely uncool, and its early user base was so off-putting they became collectively known as “Glassholes.” The Verge’s Victoria Song and Waveform’s David Imel break down why Glass failed — despite being shockingly right about the future of technology. If you like the show, ⁠⁠follow the Version History feed⁠⁠ to make sure you get every new episode as soon as it drops. ⁠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

Åhead of our last Friday episode of 2025, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr did The Vergecast an enormous favor: he went in front of Congress and said a bunch of wild things about regulation. So, of course, Nilay and David have to talk about them. For a really long time. After that, the hosts look at all the ways YouTube and Netflix are becoming more like one another, and then update the Go90 Scale of Doomed Streaming Services to round out the year. Finally, in the lightning round, there's talk of web apps, EVs, Bluesky, and the metaverse. Further reading: The Vergecast live at CES Brendan Carr doesn’t regret his threats to broadcasters  Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell: ‘Cable companies are at the mercy of content companies’ The Oscars will stream on YouTube in 2029  Netflix’s next big TV game is FIFA soccer  My Favorite Murder and The Breakfast Club podcasts are ditching YouTube for Netflix  Warner Bros. wants its shareholders to reject Paramount’s latest offer  Netflix is “100% committed” to releasing WB films in theaters.  Even Jared Kushner thinks the Paramount WB bid sucks. Peacock will bombard you with ads as soon as you open the app  HBO Max’s new channels keep Friends and Game of Thrones playing 24/7  Instagram is putting Reels on your TV  LG forced a Copilot web app onto its TVs but will let you delete it <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/846367/mercedes-benz-discontinues-feature-that-syncs-music-to-d