The Vergecast

Latest Episodes:

Apple's plot to crush OpenAI Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

It's public beta season, which means David and Nilay have been upgrading some devices this week. We talk through the good and bad of our early experiences with Siri AI, and what it'll take for next-gen Siri to be a hit. After that, we discuss the real reason Apple decided to sue OpenAI over trade secrets, OpenAI's forthcoming smart speaker, the new Pixel colors, our emoji strategies, Brendan Carr, and much more.

Further reading:

Apple’s public betas for iOS 27 and more are out now

Siri AI makes the Apple Watch finally feel like a wrist computer

Siri AI is already changing how I use my iPhone

The macOS 27 public beta is worth it just for the Liquid Glass tweaks

Apple sues OpenAI for allegedly stealing hardware secrets

Suno snatched millions of songs from YouTube, Genius, and Deezer

Sam Altman didn’t need another lawsuit

The 6 wildest claims in Apple’s lawsuit against OpenAI

Another turn in the Apple v. OpenAI dispute.

OpenAI has a new statement about Apple’s lawsuit.

OnePlus officially gives up on the US and Europe

OnePlus is dead in the US. Did it ever have a chance?

Samsung shows off ‘brand new shape’ for Z Fold 8 in Spider-Man teaser

OpenAI may announce a ChatGPT smart speaker this year

OpenAI finally launches hardware… for Codex

Pixel Watch 5 leak shows off four different finishes

The Pixel colors might rule this year

The PS6 sure sounds like a handheld

Brendan Carr plans to let broadcast giants dominate the airwaves

X admits its broken algorithm made the site feel like a ‘battleground’

States make last-ditch effort to stop the Paramount ‘media behemoth’

Paramount lead trial counsel on state AG suit: This merger is pro-competitive

The new cracking face emoji might be an all-timer.

Google’s Demis Hassabis says it’s time for a global AI watchdog — led by the US

Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.

(Timestamps are approximate.)

00:01:00 Intro

00:02:00 Apple Betas and New Siri

00:08:00 Gemini Car Assistant Fails

00:15:00 Apple Sues OpenAI

00:18:00 Trade Secret Law Explained

00:28:00 Settlement or Long Fight

00:35:00 OpenAI Home Device Doubts

00:42:00 Smartphone Platform Lessons

00:50:00 Pixel Colors and Naming

00:52:00 OnePlus Retreat Explained

00:55:00 Carriers and iPhone Lock In

01:05:00 Brendan Carr Bribery Scandal

01:14:00 Emoji Lightning Round

01:18:00 X Algorithm Rediscovery

01:23:00 Foothills Of Singularity

01:29:00 Paramount Merger Spin

01:33:00 Wrap And Plugs

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The one AI detector people actually trust Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

AI text detectors have been notoriously unreliable, but that's starting to change. This year, Pangram keeps coming up as the trusted source in identifying AI-written text. We sit down with Pangram CEO Max Spero to find out how the system was made, how much we should trust it, and where the line is between useful AI and AI slop.

Further reading:

OnePlus officially gives up on the US and Europe⁠

⁠Google ordered to open Android and Search to rivals in Europe⁠

⁠Brendan Carr plans to let broadcast giants dominate the airwaves⁠

⁠⁠The literary world isn’t prepared for AI⁠

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.

We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.

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Were we too nice to the Steam Machine? Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Valve's Steam Machine might be exactly the living room console you've been waiting for. Or it might be too expensive, totally pointless, a waste of everyone's money and shelf space. The Verge's Sean Hollister joins the show to talk through all the feedback we've been getting about our coverage and our review. Is Valve's history a pro or a con? Is the price reasonable or ridiculous? Who is this device actually for? We have much to discuss.

Further reading:

Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week

OpenAI may announce a ChatGPT smart speaker this year

Another turn in the Apple v. OpenAI dispute

⁠The Steam Machine is the most ambitious game console I’ve ever played⁠⁠

⁠⁠The Steam Machine fits my TV, my desk, and my life⁠⁠

⁠⁠Valve will finally let you build your own Steam Machine with SteamOS for desktop⁠⁠

⁠⁠How much would the Steam Machine cost to build?⁠

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.

We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The problem with Suno and AI music Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

AI-generated music is suddenly everywhere. On social media, music streaming services, and elsewhere, stuff made on Suno is becoming unavoidable. The Verge's Terrence O'Brien joins David to talk about where Suno came from, whether it can truly change the way we create and consume music, and how we can and should respond to AI music. We also have some thoughts on whether these songs might someday be bangers.

Further reading:

X admits its broken algorithm made the site feel like a ‘battleground’ | The Verge

The Pixel colors might rule this year | The Verge

Pixel Watch 5 leak shows off four different finishes | The Verge

New York becomes the first state to enact a data center moratorium | The Verge

Suno is a music copyright nightmare

Suno leans into customization with v5.5

Nobody wants to tell me why they only listen to their own Suno slop

Suno’s upgraded AI music generator is technically impressive, but still soulless

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Watch, headphones, phone: Which AI gadget is best? Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

So far, there have been exactly zero great AI-first gadgets. But that hasn't stopped the tech industry from trying to figure out what shape and size these new gadgets might take, and whether any of them can best the device in your pocket. The Verge's Allison Johnson and Victoria Song join David to rank all those shapes, from pendant to smartwatch to rectangle, to see whether there is actually a next big thing out there.

Further reading:

⁠Apple sues OpenAI for allegedly stealing hardware secrets | The Verge⁠

⁠Less is more with the Oura Ring 5 | The Verge⁠

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.

We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.

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Netflix is turning into YouTube Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

Netflix makes shows. And movies. And podcasts. And games. And… YouTube videos, apparently. So what even is Netflix anymore? Nilay and David have ideas. After that, they talk about Meta’s ongoing smart glasses mess, and whether Meta or anyone can make these devices work. Finally, it's time for Brendan Carr, RAMageddon, the state of X, and a dumb TV mystery.

Further reading:

Bloomberg: ⁠Netflix Viewers Are Abandoning Shows After One Season⁠

⁠Of course viewers are giving up on Netflix shows ⁠

⁠Netflix is about to host videos from BuzzFeed, Condé Nast, and other publishers⁠

⁠Netflix Bets on Short Videos to Compete With YouTube - Business Insider⁠

⁠Netflix's video podcast engagement numbers 'are low,' per insider⁠

⁠Emmy Nominations List 2026: BEEF, The Diplomat, The Beast in Me, Black Rabbit, and More - Netflix Tudum⁠

⁠If Microsoft sold off Xbox, who would even buy it?⁠

⁠Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that would be recording all the time ⁠

⁠Meta’s glasses will turn off the camera if you tamper with the privacy light ⁠

⁠Solos debuts an even lighter version of its camera-less smart glasses ⁠

⁠Boz describes how Meta’s smart glasses facial recognition feature would work. ⁠

⁠Another verdict on camera glasses in court: nope! ⁠

⁠ABC tells the government to get out of its newsrooms⁠

⁠Meta’s new Muse Image model can pull other Instagram users into AI photos ⁠

⁠You can (and should) opt out of letting people use your Instagram posts with Meta’s AI.⁠

⁠Are you ready for what it takes to stop ghost guns?⁠

⁠Vizio accidentally made the best dumb TV on the market⁠

⁠PC shipments fell for the first time in over two years thanks to RAMageddon. ⁠

⁠A tough chart about the RAM crisis. ⁠

⁠Subscribe to The Verge⁠ for unlimited access to ⁠theverge.com⁠, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ⁠ad-free podcast feed⁠.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠vergecast@theverge.com⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11.

(Timestamps are approximate.)

00:01:00 Intro

00:04:00 Netflix Identity Crisis

00:08:00 Creators Versus Netflix

00:15:00 Netflix Buys YouTube Videos

00:18:00 Go90 Scale Check In

00:19:00 Netflix Should Buy Xbox

00:28:00 Smart Glasses Panopticon

00:46:00 Backlash And Offline Tech

00:49:00 Smart Glasses Without Cameras

00:55:00 FCC Chilling Effect

01:03:00 Ramageddon Price Shock

01:07:00 Regulating Ghost Guns

01:14:00 X Product Reality Check

01:20:00 Vizio Dumb TV Mystery

01:25:00 Wrap Up And Plugs

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Time to believe the quantum computing hype? Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Quantum computing hype is everywhere. Trump says we'll have one by 2028, Microsoft by 2029. IBM is investing billions. Is it really happening? Science journalist Sophia Chen joins us to discuss her article, "What is a quantum computer good for? Absolutely nothing — yet," and break down what's real and what's hype in the quantum computing race. Further reading

⁠Meta is reportedly working on smart glasses that would be recording all the time⁠

⁠Sonos laid off some of its veteran product and design executives⁠

⁠Cash App fraud⁠

⁠Starlink deployments on record pace⁠

⁠Play-Doh for adults is the new Lego for adults⁠

⁠Slate is hoping a little Razzmatazz will help sell its trucks⁠

⁠What is a quantum computer good for? Absolutely nothing — yet⁠

⁠A new paper argues Microsoft exaggerated its quantum claims a year ago⁠

⁠Drama over quantum computing’s future heats up⁠

⁠The race is on for quantum-safe cryptography⁠

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.

We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's still way too hard to switch phones Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

How much smartphone is too much smartphone? Why is it so hard to switch from one phone to another, even in 2026? And is your smartwatch finally ready to replace your phone, even for a few things? These are the questions you have, and The Verge's Allison Johnson is here to answer them. If you have others, keep 'em coming! Call the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11, email ⁠vergecast@theverge.com⁠, tell us everything.

Further reading:

Google announces Pixel 11 launch event in August | The Verge

The whole Pixel line could get more expensive this year | The Verge

Meta’s glasses will turn off the camera if you tamper with the privacy light | The Verge

This jumping $800 robot camera dog filled me with joy

⁠Ditching my phone for an LTE smartwatch was a humbling experience⁠

⁠I switch phones once a week — here’s how I manage the chaos⁠

⁠Welp, I bought an iPhone again⁠

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.

We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The life-changing magic of touching stuff Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

We have all become desensitized. Every place is like every other place, every experience is happening at a remove and on a screen. And Ian Bogost, a Washington University professor and a writer at The Atlantic, argues that this "dematerialization" is making our life worse. Ian joins David to explain how to once again commune with the world. He tells us of the magic of paper tickets, why he's kind of obsessed with the rubber on his water bottle, and why you don't need to throw phone into the ocean — but you should probably watch more ASMR videos.

The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life

The Cult of Delayed Gratification Is a Lie

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We finally have a Trump Phone | The Vergecast Livestream Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

We've been tracking the Trump Phone for more than a year. We weren't sure it was real, or that it would ever ship — and we were pretty darn sure it wasn't going to be made in America. Whatever the Trump Phone is, though? We finally got our hands on one. Dom Preston and some other Verge friends will join David to talk about the device, our first impressions, and whether this is could be the best phone of 2026. (Just kidding.)

Further reading:

⁠I finally got my Trump phone⁠

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