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.
Similar Podcasts
Thinking Elixir Podcast
The Thinking Elixir podcast is a weekly show where we talk about the Elixir programming language and the community around it. We cover news and interview guests to learn more about projects and developments in the community.
The Cynical Developer
A UK based Technology and Software Developer Podcast that helps you to improve your development knowledge and career,
through explaining the latest and greatest in development technology and providing you with what you need to succeed as a developer.
Elixir Outlaws
Elixir Outlaws is an informal discussion about interesting things happening in Elixir. Our goal is to capture the spirit of a conference hallway discussion in a podcast.
Version History: Guitar Hero
Millions of basements have fake plastic guitars in them thanks to the 2005 smash hit Guitar Hero. Chris Grant and Ash Parrish join David Pierce to rock out with a game created over a matter of months by a niche developer and a peripheral manufacturer, fueled by word-of-mouth and viral videos on a nascent YouTube. You probably don’t play Guitar Hero anymore, but you might still find it in surprising places. If you like the show, subscribe to the Version History feed to make sure you get every new episode. Let us know what you think: 866-VERGE-11 or vergecast@theverge.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ChatGPT enters the browser wars
The era of the AI browser is here, and OpenAI is finally in the game. Nilay, Jake, and Hayden sit down to chat about what it means to have ChatGPT in your browser and able to control your cursor and surf the web for you. Also this week: Nilay's warning about using old surge protectors, the devastating and inevitable outcome of the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition, and Samsung's Galaxy XR headset, which looks a lot like a Vision Pro. Finally, Brendan Carr Is A Dummy makes its triumphant return. And we wrap it all up with the Lightning Round, talking about the the Friend protest, GM's decision to ditch CarPlay, the AWS outage, the future of the Xbox, and more. Help us improve The Verge: Take our quick survey at theverge.com/survey. Further reading: OpenAI’s AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas, is here The ChatGPT Atlas browser still feels like Googling with extra steps OpenAI teases a string of updates for its AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas Opera’s Neon shows just how confusing AI browsers still are Perplexity’s Comet browser is now available to everyone for free Google is expanding Gemini in Chrome and letting it do stuff for you Reddit sues Perplexity for allegedly ripping its content to feed AI The Dia browser is a big bet on the web — and an even bigger bet on AI OpenAI’s latest legal request is raising eyebrows Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division | The Verge Warner Bros. Discovery is ready for a sale WBD already rejected three offers from Paramount Skydance, Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are reportedly interested in buying Warner Bros. HBO Max is raising prices for the third year in a row Hulu with Live TV now costs $90 monthly but you can lock in $65 for three months Apple TV will be the only place to watch F1 in the US, starting next year Samsung Galaxy XR hands-on: It’s like a cheaper Apple Vision Pro and launches today The future I saw through the Meta Ray-Ban Display amazes and terrifies me These Oakley smart glasses are perfect for weekend warriors and T-ball coaches The Friend AI pendant’s creator publicized a ‘Friend protest’ in NYC These nonprofits lobbied to regulate OpenAI — then the subpoenas came Why GM will give you Gemini — but not CarPlay Did Microsoft just tease that the next Xbox is a PC and console? Major AWS outage took down Fortnite, Alexa, Snapchat, and more Pitchfork is beta testing user reviews and comments as it approaches 30 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 new Xbox is not an Xbox
We're very bullish on the handheld future of gaming. But we're not bullish on the new ROG Xbox Ally. The Verge's Sean Hollister joins the show to explain why this Xbox-branded device barely feels like an Xbox, and why it's definitely not a threat to the Steam Deck, before he and David debate whether the future of Xbox is even in good hands. After that, The Verge's Hayden Field walks David through a couple of important recent studies, asking the same basic question: is AI making us dumb? Finally, Sean returns to answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about hybrid computers, which are an extremely 2012 idea and also maybe the future of computing. But probably not. Help us improve The Verge: Take our quick survey at theverge.com/survey. Further reading: Xbox Ally and Ally X review: this is not an Xbox Prongs rock MIT: Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task How chatbots — and their makers — are enabling AI psychosis Sam Altman says ChatGPT will stop talking about suicide with teens Some doctors got worse at detecting cancer after relying on AI Microsoft Research: The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers 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
Version History: Sony Watchman
1982's coolest gadget was the Sony Watchman portable TV. Decades before everyone was glued to YouTube on their smartphones, the Watchman popularized the concept of video on the go. In the early days of the personal-tech revolution, you’d find the Watchman antennas up everywhere from the church pew to the baseball bleacher. Victoria Song and Allison Johnson join David Pierce to dive into the engineering feat that made the first Watchman possible. 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 vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AI can't even turn on the lights
Nilay’s back! And you can listen to The Vergecast with no ads, if you’re a Verge subscriber! Big week, really. Nilay and David start the show by talking about ads, podcasts, platforms, and subscriptions. Then they talk a bunch about Apple’s new M5-powered MacBook, iPad, and Vision Pro, and whether a chip bump is worth getting excited about. After that, Nilay reflects on a summer of using AI products, and explains why you can tell the whole story of this generation of AI just by talking about the smart home. Finally, in the lightning round, the hosts talk about AI song covers, Apple TV, TiVo, Roku, Cybertrucks, and the exploding Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Help us improve The Verge: Take our quick survey at theverge.com/survey. Further reading: Ad-free Verge podcasts have arrived Netflix is making a big bet on video podcasts Apple’s 2025 iPad Pro comes with an M5 chip inside Apple just upgraded the Vision Pro with an M5 chip and new strap Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro gets an M5 chip bump and faster storage Logitech made an Apple Pencil-like stylus for the Vision Pro Apple’s rumored smart home display hub might start at $350 Samsung officially teases Moohan headset launch for next week Apple’s future smart glasses could have two separate UIs. ChatGPT will soon help you shop at Walmart. How OpenAI plans to make all its money. Microsoft wants you to talk to your PC and let AI control it As Microsoft bids farewell to Windows 10, millions of users won’t Spotify says it’s working with labels on ‘responsible’ AI music tools DirecTV will soon bring AI ads to your screensaver OpenAI partners with Broadcom to produce its own AI chips Sam Altman says ChatGPT will soon sext with verified adults Apple TV Plus is being rebranded to… Apple TV Apple exec on Apple TV rebranding: ‘let’s just do it’ Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first to ‘go up in smoke during a bend test,’ JerryRigEverything says Roku’s AI-upgraded voice assistant can answer questions about what you’re watching DirecTV will soon bring AI ads to your screensaver Soul Against the Machine TiVo has sold its last DVR Tesla Cybertruck sales are flatlining 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
Announcing an ad-free Vergecast feed for Verge subscribers
If you're a paid subscriber to The Verge, there's great news: You can now listen to Decoder, Version History, and The Vergecast completely ad-free. Just head to your Account Settings page to opt-in and start listening without ads. Not a member of The Verge yet? No worries! You can sign up at theverge.com/subscribe to get ad-free podcasts, plus other perks like exclusive newsletters and unlimited access to everything we publish. More here: Verge subscribers, here’s how to set up ad-free podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google's gadgets, ranked
Google is on a bit of a heater when it comes to gadgets. The Pixel 10 lineup is one of the best Android phone options; the Pixel Watch 4 is suddenly a winner; the Pixel Buds are an excellent accessory; even the Pixel Fold got some welcome upgrades this year! With the help of The Verge’s Victoria Song and Allison Johnson, we do the impossible: we rank all six of Google’s Pixel gadgets, from worst to best. Are headphones better than smartphones? Can you really compare a tablet to a smartwatch? Who knows, but we try. After that, Allison and David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about whether the dumbphone movement is a real one. Further reading: Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: finally, a more durable foldable Google Pixel Buds 2A review: the right kind of compromise The Google Pixel Watch 4 is the Android watch to beat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Version History: BlackBerry Messenger
Back when text messages cost 10 cents each, BlackBerry came up with a better way: BlackBerry Messenger, commonly known as BBM. It was the first new idea about messaging in a long time, and it was a huge hit… for a while. Nilay Patel and Joanna Stern join David Pierce to talk about a messaging service that was years ahead of WhatsApp and iMessage, but ultimately fizzled. If you like the show, subscribe to the Version History feed to make sure you get every new episode. Let us know what you think: 866-VERGE-11 or vergecast@theverge.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Maybe it's real, maybe it's Sora
Say this for OpenAI: it's very good at raising money, and it's very good at getting attention. David and Jake are joined by The Verge's Hayden Field to talk about OpenAI's demo day, the company's app store plans, why it's trying to build every possible ChatGPT feature all at the same time, and more. After that, the hosts talk about the ongoing popularity of the Sora app, and whether OpenAI has truly built a new kind of social network. Then Hayden has to leave, so David and Jake take on the lightning round to discuss Intel chips, Alex Cooper's Google deal, Starry internet, and more. Further reading: OpenAI will let developers build apps that work inside ChatGPT ChatGPT apps are live: Here are the first ones you can try OpenAI: all the news about the makers of ChatGPT OpenAI’s head of ChatGPT said it will significantly evolve in the next six months. OpenAI will eventually allow “mature” ChatGPT apps. OpenAI and Jony Ive’s secret device won’t be ‘your weird AI girlfriend’ AMD teams up with OpenAI to challenge Nvidia’s AI chip dominance Sam Altman says there are no current plans for ads within ChatGPT Pulse — but he’s not ruling it out A busy week for OpenAI’s social video machine. Sora now lets users limit how their AI double is used OpenAI teases licensed fictional characters on Sora OpenAI wasn’t expecting Sora’s copyright drama Developers can bring Sora 2’s AI video generation into their own apps. Katie Notopolous on Threads Sora’s Slop Hits Different A new iPhone setting will stop CarPlay from stealing your AirPods’ audio Here is Panther Lake, Intel’s 2026 laptop chip with next-gen graphics\ Facebook is turning into TikTok Alex Cooper is making ads for Google / Pixel Here’s how Apple is locking down iPhones to comply with Texas’ age verification law Verizon buys the not-quite-5G wireless ISP Starry to expand wireless broadband Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google's extreme smart home makeover
Oh, you thought AI was just in your browser and on your phone? Well, the AI is coming from inside the house. The Verge's Jen Pattison Tuohy and Google's Anish Kattukaran both join the show to discuss last week's Google smart home news, including the company's big bet on the Gemini assistant. Anish explains why Google cares about the smart home in the first place, why things haven't exactly gone great so far, and why he's so convinced the new generation of AI can make it work. After that, The Verge's Vee Song joins the show to talk about Peloton's newest gear, including a $6,695 treadmill and a huge new push into personalized AI training features. Vee then sticks around to help David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about how many smartwatches is too many smartwatches. Spoiler alert: the answer is two. But it's not quite as simple as that. Further reading: Peloton increases fees and introduces new hardware including a $6,695 treadmill Peloton appoints Apple Fitness Plus cofounder as new CEO Peloton is a media company now, with media company problems Google dismantled Nest — can Gemini save what’s left? Hey Google, meet Gemini: the new voice of your smart home The new Google Home Speaker is built for Gemini Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Version History: Hoverboards
In 2015, self-balancing scooters (which quickly became known as hoverboards) exploded in popularity, and then began literally exploding. Andrew Hawkins and Sean O’Kane join David Pierce to explore the multiple conflicting origin stories behind the hugely popular rideable, the many knockoffs, and why a device that doesn't actually hover ended up being called "hoverboard." If you like the show, subscribe to the Version History feed to make sure you get every new episode. Let us know what you think: 866-VERGE-11 or vergecast@theverge.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The real price of a free TV
This week, everything is a HomePod. And has ads. The Verge’s Jen Pattison-Tuohy joins the show to talk about all of Amazon’s new hardware, the current state of Alexa Plus, and whether the new Kindle Scribe is the one we’ve been waiting for. Then, The Verge’s Emma Roth tells Jen and David about her experience with Telly, the TV that ships to your house for free in exchange for showing you ads all the time. Telly may not be for everyone. Finally, in the lightning round, the gang talks about a handy new Spotify feature, Emma’s first Waymo ride, and the glory that is Chunk. Further reading: Amazon’s 2025 hardware event: the 8 biggest announcements Here’s where to preorder all of Amazon’s new Alexa devices and when they arrive Amazon finally did the damn hardware right Amazon’s new Echo Dot Max smart speaker bumps up the bass Alexa Plus is smarter — but it’s not yet smart enough Alexa Plus on the TV is made to save you from your phone Alexa Plus is smarter — but it’s not yet smart enough Alexa Plus on the TV is made to save you from your phone Amazon sticks two cameras together for the 180-degree Blink Arc The new Google Home Speaker is built for Gemini Hey Google, meet Gemini: the new voice of your smart home | The Verge I spent three months with Telly, the free TV that’s always showing ads OpenAI made a TikTok for deepfakes, and it’s getting hard to tell what’s real Spotify now lets you exclude specific songs from your algorithm All hail the new Fat Bear Champion Ring launches upgraded cameras with ‘Retinal Vision’ 4K recording Microsoft is giving Copilot AI faces you can chat with Waymo adds YouTube Music Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
My other car is a cargo bike
Sure, you could drive to the grocery store and to school. But wouldn’t you rather grab a few hundred of your friends and bike-bus everywhere? The Verge’s Andy Hawkins joins the show to tell us all about his adventures with electric cargo bikes, and why he thinks they’re the ride of the future. After that, Lauren Feiner calls in from just outside a courthouse in Virginia, where she’s watching the remedies trial in Google’s adtech monopoly case. Google already lost the case; what happens next is still anyone’s guess. Finally, David answers a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about how to feel about summarizing YouTube videos with AI. The short version: you should feel a lot of things. Further reading: Why your next car should be an electric cargo bike Electric cargo bikes are rewiring cities Can Google be trusted without a break up? US v. Google redux: all the news from the ad tech trial Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tick Tock, TikTok
After more than five years of backing and forthing, secret meetings and loud screeds, it appears the fate of TikTok in the US has finally been decided. Maybe. There are still a lot of unknowns, but we're pretty sure we know the bones of the deal — and we know which of President Trump's allies stand to benefit the most. Before we get to all that, though, David and Jake run through some big news in future gadgets, including the long-awaited-and-maybe-happening combination of Android and ChromeOS and the possibilities for a touchscreen MacBook. Then, The Verge's Liz Lopatto joins to talk TikTok. And Trump. Then, in the lightning round, the three hosts talk through Jimmy Kimmel's return, Nvidia's money problems, a surprising AmEx perk, and much more. Further reading: Google’s Android for PC: ‘I’ve seen it, it is incredible’ Our biggest questions about ChromeOS and Android merging The foldable iPhone might look like two iPhone Airs stuck together The touchscreen MacBook rumors are never ending OpenAI might also be developing AI glasses, a voice recorder, and a pin Trump claims the US is about to get a tremendous fee for taking TikTok out of China Trump signs executive order approving TikTok deal Some details of the TikTok deal have been worked out. What Trump Wants from a TikTok Deal with China American Investors Will License and Oversee TikTok’s U.S. Version, White House Says TikTok Deal Could Make Oracle Founder Larry Ellison a New Kind of Media Mogul Anker’s party speaker projector hits Kickstarter with a sizable discount. Montblanc is getting into the digital notepad game Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro can be easily scratched It costs $895 per year to get American Express’ premium app theme Nvidia is partnering up with OpenAI to offer compute and cash Kimmel returns to television to mock FCC Chair Brendan Carr Sinclair won’t air Kimmel. Trump on Truth Social Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
YouTube wants you to go live
In all the tech news and world news last week, YouTube's Made On event got a little lost. So we circled back: The Verge's Mia Sato explains why YouTube is suddenly all-in on livestreaming, why it seems to be rapidly turning into a shopping mall, and whether all these AI features will improve YouTube or destroy it. After that, it's time for a second round of David's Summer Takes, in which he subjects The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes and Hayden Field to his thoughts on Threads, podcasts, and social media. Finally, Hayden sticks around to answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about the words we use when we talk AI. Further reading: YouTube makes it easier and more lucrative to go live YouTube is inching closer to becoming a shopping channel YouTube is going all in on AI New YouTube AI tools help creators give viewers what they want Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices