Hello! This is The Vergecast, the flagship podcast of The Verge... and your life. Every Friday, Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn make sense of the week's tech news with help from our wide-ranging staff. Join us every week for a fun, deeply nerdy, often off-the-rails conversation about what's happening now (and next) in technology and gadgets.
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The $8 million AI music scam
A man named Mike Smith was recently sentenced to 18 months in prison, and a fine in excess of $8 million, for creating an AI system that faked billions of streams and earned him millions in royalties. Wired's Kate Knibbs explains how Smith pulled it off, how he got caught, and what this case means for the internet's growing slop problems. Vote for us in the Signal Awards! Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast Vote Version History: Best History Podcast Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast Further reading: Apple’s HomeView ad is confusing to everyone except parents | The Verge Ocarina of Time’s Switch 2 remake feels modern — and terrifying | The Verge We might not have to wait 13 years for the next GTA | The Verge Epic is bringing Fortnite to Linux | The Verge JPMorgan Chase is keeping AI agents out. | The Verge Wired: Spotify Confirms Streaming Fraud After Kalshi Trader Cries Foul 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
HomeView: Apple just got serious about the smart home | Livestream
Apple just announced its long-rumored HomeView smart home hub. But that's not all... there are cameras, thermostats and a door lock co-developed with LG and Schneider Electric, refreshed HomePod Minis, even a new Apple TV 4K. The Verge's senior smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattinson Tuohy joined Nilay Patel and David Pierce LIVE to discuss and take your questions about Apple's massive play to take over your house. You have until Thursday to vote for us in the Signal Awards! Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast Vote Version History: Best History Podcast Further reading: Apple launches HomeView, its first smart display for the home The new Apple Home Collection includes a video doorbell, smart lock, and more Apple announces the HomePod Mini 2, but it isn’t ready for Siri AI at launch The new Apple TV 4K has built-in microphones so you can talk to Siri 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The AI is in the computer
It's gadget season. More specifically, it's apparently "new computer for your new AI" season. David and Nilay talk through a slew of announcements — Amazon's Alexa Tablets, Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra, the new Googlebooks, and Apple's upcoming smart home launch — to figure out if anyone has the right idea about the future of computing, and where the AI is supposed to live. After that, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, our thoughts on the Paramount / Warner / Skydance merger, and much more. Please vote for The Verge's podcasts in the Signal listener's choice awards! Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast Vote Version History: Best History Podcast Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Read more about the topics discussed in today's 1 hour, 41 minute podcast: Amazon’s Alexa Tablets are powerful, impressive, and designed to take on iPad Hands-on with Amazon’s Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and its wild new matte display Amazon is phasing out Fire Tablets because they weren’t ‘giving customers what they were asking for’ Amazon’s new Kids Tablets let parents manage access to the Google Play store Apple announces surprise ‘Welcome home’ launch event Apple and LG team up on new smart home gear, starting with a lock, doorbell, and thermostat New leaks provide our first look at Apple and LG’s smart home devices Everything announced at Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra event The Surface Laptop Ultra finally has a release date — and a starting price of $2,599 Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra has built-in magnetic USB-C charging How Microsoft built its MacBook Pro competitor Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is available for preorder for $5,999 The first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops cost up to $7,000 Microsoft is giving Copilot more control over Windows and your files Our first five impressions of Googlebooks — exciting but underbaked Android’s physical navigation buttons are back on Googlebooks, but not the way you think Google admits not every Android app runs great on Intel Googlebooks Politico: ‘Head on a guillotine’: ABC says Trump’s threats are already swaying coverage ChatGPT’s ‘Intelligent UI’ update fills its responses with pictures, charts, and buttons Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery complete $110 billion media megamerger HBO Max and Paramount Plus will merge into a single streamer under Skydance CNN’s boss will remain as Paramount and WBD merge into Skydance Skydance is merging Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery’s games teams. Sam Altman says ‘some bad things’ will happen, but AI is totally worth it 0:00 Cold Open 00:37 David’s back! 01:10 Parenting Chaos Update 02:49 Gadget News Rundown 03:47 New Amazon Alexa Tablets 05:15 Panos Strategy Shift 06:31 Play Store Bet 11:17 Default Android Tablet 13:18 Ads and Pricing Fears 15:30 Amazon Great Products 21:20 Matte Display Debate 25:01 Apple Smart Home Tease 26:12 Siri AI Reality Check 29:08 Smart Home Too Complex 33:37 Candy Crush Question 34:56 iPad Multiuser Problem 39:04 Microsoft AI Surface Push 40:35 Local AI Computing Shift 47:22 Magnetic USB C Charging 48:37 Google Book Laptop Confusion 54:20 AI Agents Need A Surface 58:50 Skepticism About Agents 01:07:46 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:09:23 ABC License Chilling Effect 01:11:24 Brendan Carr Ownership Cap 01:12:30 Cable Companies Sue Back 01:14:44 SXSW Corruption Game 01:15:50 Skydance Mega Merger 01:18:04 Debt Layoffs Streamer Cuts 01:22:58 Go90 Scale Returns 01:24:02 Netflix Loses Its Edge 01:30:44 ChatGPT Interactive UI 01:37:47 Sam Altman Tradeoffs 01:44:49 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The many pluses and minuses of Alexa Plus
Amazon is determined to turn Alexa Plus into a do-everything AI assistant that can compete with Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, and the rest. But after a year of testing, The Verge's Jen Tuohy has mixed feelings on how it's all going. And on whether a new tablet is the right way to fix it. Further reading: It appears .agent and .agi are about to be the hot new domains GTA VI leaks continue with a lengthy (and very nude) gameplay video GTA VI will have in-game podcasts and at least six radio stations Joe Rogan and Spotify renew massive podcast deal Alexa Plus is better at running my home, but it’s not ready to run my life Hands-on with Amazon’s Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and its wild new matte display Amazon is phasing out Fire Tablets because they weren’t ‘giving customers what they were asking for’ The Vergecast has been nominated for a Signal Award! You can vote to help us win 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The hot new thing in headphones
Bose, Sony, Beats, and seemingly every other headphone maker has recently released a new and excellent set of cans. Or buds. Or both. The Verge's John Higgins explains why the headphone market is suddenly so great, how the companies are competing now, and which new pair is the right one for you. Vote for us in the Signal Awards! Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast Vote Version History: Best History Podcast Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast Further reading: The Sonos Ace Ultra are the headphones Sonos should have made the first time Nothing’s new flagship Headphone 1 Pro put you in the studio The Beats 360 are what I’d bring to the gym if I hated earbuds The premium AirPods 5 are the best open-ear earbuds Apple has made Six years later, Sony revisits its legendary XM4 headphones 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How much should you tell your AI agent?
The next big thing in AI, at least if you ask the tech companies, is assistant agents. David and The Verge's Allison Johnson have both been testing products like Meta's Muse, OpenAI's Dots, and startups like Instinct, in an effort to find out how much you can really get done by messaging with an AI tool – and whether the productivity is worth the tradeoffs. Further reading: Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery complete $110 billion media megamerger Amazon reportedly pays $120 million to stream the Emmys for free New leaks reveal more details about the Fitbit Edge including its price A Trump Mobile breach may have exposed data of more than 3,600 people OpenAI’s Dot agent can help you work and order dinner Meta’s Muse AI agent is an effective helper and great at spending money The Vergecast has been nominated for a Signal Award! You can vote to help us win 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We hear pitches on the best vibe-coded apps
Welcome to the Bear Lair!* (No, it’s nothing like that other show.) As we continue to explore the world of AI tools and vibe coding, we invited a few enterprising Vergecast fans to share their projects — and we invited The Verge’s Hayden Field to judge them with us. We’ll see what people are working on, and whether any of them will make us fabulously wealthy.*We came up with this name before we became aware that someone else thought of it first... no relation to the APTNtv show Bears' Lair! Further reading: Google admits not every Android app runs great on Intel Googlebooks The Pixel 10A now costs $100 more. Samsung raised prices on the Galaxy S26 by $100 Huawei says RAMageddon has increased its smartphone costs by $200. 2GB Raspberry Pis are getting pricier. Nvidia’s Shield TV Pro just got a $100 price hike Star Wars: Galactic Racer is my childhood podracing dream come true 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dots get up in Muse's business
Is the key to turning around public opinion on AI Super Intelligence just to make it cuter? Nilay Patel, Jake Kastrenakes and David Imel talk about the latest adorable agents that want access to all your data, then discuss whether this week's White House AI Super Intelligence accord is worth the paper it's written on. Plus: Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets! We speculate on Apple's rumored October 13 announcement, drool over Huawei's camera for your cameraphone, and herald the return of physical buttons in the new Kindle cases. We wrap things up with the usual Brendan Carr is a Dummy and a lightning round full of Cybercabs, data centers, 'Old Reddit' and government chatbots. Vote for us in the Signal Awards! Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast Vote Version History: Best History Podcast Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast Further reading: OpenAI launches Dots, its Muse competitor OpenAI plans to bring Dots to consumers, too. Meta’s Muse AI sent a YouTuber’s address to a stranger Maybe don’t let Muse run your Facebook Marketplace account. Sam Altman says OpenAI won’t go public until its models are safe Google announces Gemini 4 and says it’s so capable that only ‘trusted cyber defenders’ can have it right now AI researchers put out videos saying superintelligence is ‘exactly as dangerous as it sounds’ Here’s how tech leaders will self-police AI safety under Trump’s deal Here’s what AI leaders are saying about Trump’s new safety plan Trump: “You’re going to see — data centers are going to be very popular.” Trump orders US government to call AI ‘Super Intelligence’ Huawei made a whole camera to attach to its latest phone Amazon is launching colorful new Kindles — and a case with physical page-turn buttons Apple’s ‘HomePad’ will reportedly launch on October 13th NBC News: FCC head says government-funded Trump ads are ‘normal’ and ‘don’t raise any red flags’ The People of Utah vs. Kevin O’Leary Tesla’s Cybercab robotaxi rollout: the biggest news and announcements The White House launched an AI chatbot for government-related questions. Reddit says it has to cut back access to ‘Old Reddit’ because of AI bots 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. 0:00 Welcome 00:52 Awards and Listener Voting 01:36 Week Ahead Preview 01:52 OpenAI Dots vs Meta Muse 06:09 Living as Tasks 19:47 Business Models and Privacy 23:41 Bot Traffic and Web Friction 27:48 Trump Superintelligence Accord 37:46 Gadget Segment Kickoff 38:26 Huawei Screw On Lens Camera 41:33 Why Phone Camera Hybrids Fail 44:09 Pricey Phone Lens Debate 45:31 Kindle Lineup Upgrades 48:49 Apple Smart Home Display Rumors 01:02:58 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:08:27 America Gov Chatbot 01:14:54 Old Reddit Bot Crackdown 01:19:30 Utah Data Center Blowup 01:25:17 Cybercab Ride Report 01:27:31 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We answer your questions about an iPod comeback, an E Ink iPhone Duo, and more
In this hotline episode, guest host David Imel answers your questions about digital cameras, iPods, E Ink phones, and the TI-84 graphing calculator being iced out of the Version History Hall of Fame. Further reading: Amazon is launching colorful new Kindles — and a case with physical page-turn buttons NYC is now the first city in America that bans sketchy subscriptions HP’s answer to the MacBook Neo is thinner, lighter, and comes with OLED 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dots are OpenAI's cute lil guys
Jolly's got new competition: OpenAI just launched its competitor to Muse and Grok Bot. It's called Dots, and the headline feature is that it's also cute, with fuzzy lil triangles and clouds and hearts that you can give access to your personal accounts to do things for you. The Verge's senior AI reporter Hayden Field joins guest host David Imel from San Francisco right after OpenAI's DevDay presentation. Further reading: OpenAI DevDay 2026: The biggest news and announcements The Vergecast has been nominated for a Signal Award! You can vote to help us win 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pokémon trading cards are their own economy
The Pokémon Trading Card Game isn't just a game, it's an economy. Livestreamers provide vicarious dopamine hits to viewers who tune in to watch them open booster packs, and the rarest cards can resell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The game's 30th anniversary collection just launched, putting more copies of the game's rarest cards back into circulation. Guest host David Imel talks about the state of the Pokémon TCG market with The Verge's film, TV and pop culture reporter Charles Pulliam-Moore. Further reading: OpenAI launches Dots Nothing Headphone 1 Pro Your new Chromebook won’t get 10 years of ChromeOS support — because support now ends 2034. Pokémon card scalpers have turned collecting into an online blood sport 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Shuhei Yoshida on the future of gaming
It's a confusing time right now for gaming. Video games are becoming an increasingly expensive hobby. Games are expensive to make, too, and companies want to sell the most lucrative ones they can: Sony and Microsoft are cutting jobs to refocus on blockbusters. At the same time, we’ve got more ways to play than ever: handhelds, phones, even cloud gaming is getting better. So where are we headed? Today on The Vergecast, Sean Hollister asks that question of Shuhei Yoshida, who spent 31 years at Sony playing games and figuring out what gamers will pay for. Further reading: The smart home graveyard is getting crowded There may be a way to save your June Oven after all Nvidia says its new AI safety platform can contain rogue agents within ‘milliseconds’ Bose’s first wired earbuds in 11 years add noise canceling Xbox is barely Xbox anymore AI was everywhere at gaming’s big developer conference — except the games Half of developers think gen AI is bad for the gaming industry In 2025, AI became a lightning rod for gamers and developers The golden age of handheld gaming is already over The Steam Machine is the most ambitious game console I’ve ever played The PS6 sure sounds like a handheld The Steam Deck makes PlayStation’s biggest games portable PlayStation exclusives aren’t coming to PC anymore I regret buying the PSVR 2 Xbox exploring ‘radically different’ console business models How Sony bought, and squandered, the future of gaming 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Phones don't have lights
Meta's Muse AI agent is cute (sometimes caked-up) and it performs well as a productivity tool. And, if you give it access to your social media and e-mail, it can know basically everything about you. This week on The Vergecast, Nilay Patel, Jake Kastrenakes and David Imel give their reactions to Mark Zuckerberg's demos at Wednesday's Meta Connect keynote. They also talk about the new glasses hardware, including the new VR glasses and audio-only, camera-free Ray-Bans.Then, we take a look at the newly-announced, chimeric Chrome/Android hybrid Googlebooks, find out why Brendan Carr is a dummy this week, analyze the Paramount merger, discuss what YouTube's A/B video testing means for the increasingly tenuous concept of a shared reality, and end on a surprisingly heartwarming story about RODECaster 4K support. Further reading: Meta Connect 2026: The 7 biggest announcements Meta Connect 2026 live blog: On the ground at Mark Zuckerberg’s next big product launch Meta’s Muse AI works and creeps me out Amazon blocks Meta’s Muse AI agent Meta ditches the camera on its newest smart glasses Meta’s next VR device isn’t a headset — it’s glasses These are the first five Googlebook laptops Googlebooks feel like the first laptops built for Android owners I got to see Google’s wild ideas about the future of laptops The long dream of the Googlebook Mahershala Ali On ‘Blade’ Being A Big Failure For Kevin Feige: “100%. He Should Feel That Way” Paramount will need to release way more movies to make this merger work Xbox is barely Xbox anymore YouTube is cooking up new Live features. Free Rodecaster Video firmware update adds 4K support. 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. 0:00 Welcome Back Banter 00:31 Meta Connect Setup 01:27 Muse First Impressions 05:28 Privacy Trust Gap 07:58 Pervert Glasses Debate 12:55 Passive Surveillance Reality 15:42 Is Muse Actually Winning 18:44 Muse Charm Post Phone 21:38 Do We Need Agents 26:12 Break And Return 26:29 New Meta Hardware 27:00 Audio Only Ray Bans 28:30 Muse Powered Glasses 31:15 Meta Bets on Muse 32:28 Hearing Aid Glasses Pitch 34:40 VR Glasses Return 39:04 Holograms and Splats 42:44 Google Books Arrive 44:57 Android Laptop Lock In 47:49 Windows Fatigue Debate 54:54 Hype Desk Blade Drama 57:14 Remembering Blade Chaos 01:00:37 Blade Reboot Frustrations 01:01:26 Sonos Sponsor Break 01:03:07 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:07:38 Lightning Round Kickoff 01:08:02 Meta Muse Mascot Chaos 01:09:26 Paramount Warner Deal Fallout 01:12:37 YouTube AI Channel Agents 01:14:05 A B Video Testing Ethics 01:21:25 Xbox Layoffs And Halo Shift 01:24:45 Rodecaster Free 4K Update 01:26:36 Muse Marketplace Haggling 01:27:35 Wrap Up And Next Episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Meta and Snap battle for your face
Meta and Snap both want to get on your face. The Verge's Victoria Song and Jay Peters tried out all the new hardware: Specs, audio-only Ray Bans, and Meta VR. Today, they join guest host David Imel to talk about how these new smart glasses feel, both physically and emotionally. Further reading: Meta’s next VR device isn’t a headset — it’s glasses Meta ditches the camera on its newest smart glasses I wore Snap’s $2,200 smart glasses 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hotline: Folding phones in cars, EVs in Mexico
Transportation editor Andrew Hawkins is here to answer your questions about the confluence of cars and gadgets. Could a folding phone replace a dashboard display? What to do about the iPhone Pro Max not fitting the Tesla's built-in wireless charger? And we hear from a listener who -- shockingly -- doesn't care about CarPlay. Further reading: The car of the future is an EV golf cart 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices