The Vergecast is the flagship daily podcast from The Verge about small gadgets, Big Tech, and everything in between. Every Friday, Nilay Patel and David Pierce hang out and make sense of the week’s most important technology news. And Monday through Thursday, David leads a selection of The Verge’s expert staffers in an exploration of how gadgets and software affect our lives — and which ones you should bring into yours. Click here to subscribe.
Travis Larchuk
Today’s Vergecast: Does smart home tech work in a college dorm?
It can be hard enough to set up smart home tech in a house or an apartment, but what about a dorm room? Jennifer Pattison Tuohy recently tested out some smart home tech when she dropped off her son for his freshman year at college. Jen reports back to David Imel on how the gadgets stood up to the challenges of dorm Wi-Fi and the rules against hanging things on the wall.
Travis Larchuk
Today’s Vergecast: We play a brutal quiz about our gadget memories.
Do you remember your first BlackBerry? Do you remember when that first BlackBerry launched? On this episode taped before David Pierce went on leave, producer Travis Larchuk leads David, Nilay, and Sean Hollister through a game of memory and history and a surprising amount of feelings tied to gadget launches.
Jacob Kastrenakes
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
On today’s Vergecast: Nilay and Jen talk smart home voice assistants. Are they good yet?
For better or worse, Amazon Alexa and Google Home’s smart voice assistants have been imbued with new generative AI powers.
The promise is you can use natural language with your smart speaker to adjust your thermostat, lock the doors, and find out what your pets have been up to. The reality is smart home voice assistants are going through an identity crisis. I invited Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel onto his own podcast to compare notes on life with Alexa Plus versus Gemini for Home.
Travis Larchuk
Today’s Vergecast: Our Pixel reviewer roundtable.
Senior reviewer Victoria Song leads a Vergecast roundtable with editors Dominic Preston and Cameron Faulkner to talk about the Pixel 11/Pro/Fold and the Pixel Watch 5. We discuss if HiLight is a LowLight, whether we miss the temperature sensor, and if the Watch 5’s GPS truly beats Garmin and Apple. And stay tuned for more camera discussion on Friday’s Vergecast.
Travis Larchuk
Today’s Vergecast: A repair shop’s guide to surviving RAMageddon.
It feels right now like prices are going up, gadgets are getting worse, and everything is getting harder to buy. Leo Mastrolia, the Digital Doctor and the owner of a repair shop in New Jersey, is seeing this all play out first hand. For the second part of our conversation (and the first part of our RAMageddon survival guide), he tells us what he’s telling his clients about fixing their gadgets, managing upgrades, and surviving a parts crisis. Check out part one of our conversation here.
Travis Larchuk
Today’s Vergecast: The Digital Doctor will see you now.
A few years ago, Leo Mastrolia started a gadget repair shop. Little did he know he’d eventually become known across the internet as The Digital Doctor, and would learn to fix practically every gadget you can think of. On this episode, which is part one of our conversation with Leo, he tells us about his journey as a gadget fixer, the growth of his social channels, and how right-to-repair fights and upgrade cycles are affecting life in his store.
David Pierce
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Today’s Vergecast: Should you let a robot mow your lawn?
Is it time to fire the neighbor kid and hire a robot lawnmower instead? Last year I wrote that “in all but a few scenarios, robot lawnmowers still aren’t worth your money,” but there’s a new class of Roombas with razor blades ready to tackle bumpy terrain and dodge crazy chickens. Realtor and smart home reviewer Brandon Doyle joins me to talk about our reviews of the newest robotic mowers and to let you know if they’re finally worth all that money. Read my review for more and check out Brandon’s video review.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Lessons from the very first chatbot.
Before Alexa and Siri, there was ELIZA. The first chatbot ever was the creation of a man named Joseph Weizenbaum, who built the bot almost as a magic trick — and then couldn’t believe how many people fell for it. David Berry and Mark Marino, two members of a team dedicated to restoring and understanding ELIZA, explain how Weizenbaum created the virtual conversant, why he came to regret it, and what ELIZA can teach us about life in the AI age.
David Pierce
Today on The Vergecast: We share our vibe-coded websites.
We’ve spent the last month vibe coding our own corners of the internet. The Verge’s Jake Kastrenakes and Hayden Field join David to talk about their use of Gemini, Codex, and Claude Code to build 90s-themed personal websites, vegetable-sharing systems, and photo boards. It wasn’t always easy, and we didn’t get everything done, but with a little AI and a lot of prompting, we made it work.
David Pierce
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Today’s Vergecast: The next big thing in movies is 60-year-old IMAX tech.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is the first feature film ever shot entirely with IMAX 70mm film cameras, which is apparently a very big deal, and why it’s been harder than usual to get a ticket to see Matt Damon on the biggest screen. Now that Spider-Man is moving onto IMAX screens, it may be even harder.
So, why is this 60-year-old tech suddenly the hottest thing in movies? The Verge’s Charles Pulliam-Moore joins The Vergecast to compare the standard and IMAX versions of The Odyssey and talk us through the difference between IMAX, LieMAX, and Infinity Vision.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: E Ink, the fediverse, and smart Puka shells.
You have questions. We have (some) answers! For this week’s hotline episode, Travis Larchuk asks David your questions about E Ink-ish screens, federated messaging, minimalist phones, AI wearables, and what we got wrong about wide foldables. And don’t forget, you can always call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com to get your questions in about anything and everything. Bonus points if it involves popping your two collars.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: What’s really open about open-weight AI?
Everyone in AI is talking about open-weight models right now. Some see them as the ticket to faster, more efficient development; others see them as an economic threat; they’re either a security risk or the only security solution, depending who you ask. The Verge’s Robert Hart explains how open-weight models work, why they’re suddenly at the center of discussions about AI safety, and whether the only way to stop a bad guy with AI is a good guy with AI.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Rise of the Whoop dupes.
For the last few years, the trend in wearables has been all about screens. As many of them as possible. But now, companies like Whoop, Fitbit, and Garmin are creating new products that ditch the display entirely. The Verge’s Victoria Song explains why no-screen is the new screen, why even the most quantified athletes might not want a display on their wrist, and whether Whoop and the Whoop dupes are a sign of a broader trend.
David Pierce
Jacob Kastrenakes
Meta’s Oversight Board is coming for ChatGPT and Claude.
A recent study from the Oversight Board found that leading AI systems are less likely to criticize authoritarian governments than democratic ones.
It’s a wild finding — but wait? Why is Meta’s Oversight Board studying systems from OpenAI and Anthropic in the first place? Board member Suzanne Nossel joined me on The Vergecast to discuss the findings and why the Oversight Board’s future might involve looking at more than just Meta.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: The Z Fold 8 is the new foldable to beat.
The wide foldable is here, and it’s glorious. The Verge’s Dominic Preston has been reviewing Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, and joins the show to explain what this shorter, wider device gets right, what it’s still missing, and why this looks like the right kind of foldable for most people. (Once the price comes down, anyway.) With a similar foldable iPhone likely coming soon, it’s shaping up to be a fun year of foldables.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Flip phones are so back.
The team at Light has been working on minimalist phones for more than a decade. Its last device had a lot in common with a smartphone, but the newest model, the Light Flip, is something very different. Light CEO Kaiwei Tang explains why Light made a flip phone, how the world’s opinion of smartphones is changing, and whether you can cure your tech problems with more tech.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Here’s what an AI-first phone might look like.
Some of the biggest players in AI — in particular OpenAI, SpaceX, and Amazon — are heavily invested in creating a world after smartphones. They’re also all rumored to be building devices that sound a lot like smartphones. Verge contributor David Imel helps us figure out what these companies might actually be building, what an AI smartphone looks like, and whether anyone can unseat Apple and Google.
David Pierce
Jacob Kastrenakes
Why read anymore?
TikTok is endless. Netflix is already starting the next episode. Who’s making time to read a book? Today we’re chatting with The Atlantic’s Rose Horowitch to discuss her story “The End of Reading is Here” and the role technology plays in reducing how much time — and attention — people have to read long pieces of writing. In a world where we’re inundated with more text than ever from social media feeds, AI, and group chats, is it really possible that we’re taking in less than before?
David Pierce
Stick around after the Samsung event for a Vergecast livestream!
We’ll be live shortly after the event ends, talking phones and watches and foldables and flippables and AI and everything else Samsung has to share today. Come hang, bring thoughts and questions, tell us whether wide fold or tall fold is the way. See you there!
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: The car of the future is an EV golf cart.
So far, most electric vehicles have looked more or less like cars. But recently, a few companies have looked to another, smaller mode of transport for inspiration. The Verge’s Andy Hawkins explains why companies like Amble and Chip are reinventing the golf cart, in the hopes of creating an entirely new kind of street-legal vehicle. As long as the speed limit stays low.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: The US is losing its lead in AI.
Since the beginning of the AI revolution, a few companies have claimed to be building the best and most powerful AI models. All of them were American. More recently, a few Chinese companies seem to have caught up, shipping models that are much cheaper and maybe also just as good. The Verge’s Hayden Field and Lauren Feiner join the show to explain how China made so much progress, the threat that progress represents to US companies and the US government, and what might happen next.
David Pierce
Jacob Kastrenakes
The one AI detector people actually trust.
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.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Were we too nice to the Steam Machine?
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.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: The problem with Suno and AI music.
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.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Watch, headphones, phone: Which AI gadget is best?
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.
David Pierce
Jacob Kastrenakes
Today’s Vergecast: Time to believe the quantum computing hype?
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.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: The life-changing magic of touching stuff.
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 in a new book called The Small Stuff that this “dematerialization” is making our life worse. 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.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: We finally have a Trump Phone.
We promised ourselves a while back that, if and when the Trump Phone ever arrived, we would immediately go live and talk about it. I’m still not entirely sure why. But we are people of our word, and Dominic Preston and I now have Trump Phones! Update: Thanks to everyone who watched and commented! You can catch up on the stream below, or wherever you get podcasts.
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Our favorite tips for logging off.
For many of us in the US, it’s the beginning of a holiday weekend. So we figured we’d try and help you out. We grabbed a bunch of Verge staffers, and asked them all a simple question: How do you disconnect? We have ideas about Wi-Fi, about phone hygiene, about smartwatches, and much more. We’re certainly not here to tell you to ditch screens entirely, but… screen responsibly, you know? Send us your tips, and have a great summer vacation!
David Pierce
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Rivian’s last chance to take on Tesla.
For years, Rivian has looked like one of the most compelling electric vehicle companies in America — and maybe the car maker most equipped to take on Tesla. All that potential comes down to this: the R2, the long-awaited and more affordable car that Rivian hopes can make it truly mainstream. After a journey to the R2’s factory earlier this year, The Verge’s Andrew Hawkins explains what the R2 is, why it matters, and what happens to Rivian if it’s a hit — or a flop.
Mia Sato
Today’s Vergecast: Tim Heidecker on the return of InfoWars.
After more than a year and a half in court, satirical news site The Onion is rebooting Alex Jones’ InfoWars — even as the conspiracy channel hangs in legal limbo. Comedian and writer Tim Heidecker has been tapped as creative director, and he came on the show to share his vision for the platform. Also mentioned: peptides, The Beatles, and the state of Tim’s vocal chords. Enjoy!
David Pierce
Today’s Vergecast: Our vibe coded projects that actually work.
It’s time for a new series on The Vergecast! (It still needs a name. Please help.) We’re going to give Verge staffers a challenge, and regroup a few weeks later to see who did it best. We’re starting with some vibe coding. The Verge’s Jake Kastrenakes and Hayden Field share what they’ve made with AI that has actually stuck in their lives, before David gives the challenge: build a website to solve a problem in your life. We’ll be back with the results soon, and in the meantime, send us ideas for more challenges! (Also, names for the series. PLEASE.)