The Vergecast

37:48

The one AI detector people actually trust

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/16

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

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26:44

Were we too nice to the Steam Machine?

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/15

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 —

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31:04

The problem with Suno and AI music

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/14

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’

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43:32

Watch, headphones, phone: Which AI gadget is best?

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/13

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

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85:30

Netflix is turning into YouTube

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/10

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

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28:25

Time to believe the quantum computing hype?

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/09

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

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33:06

It's still way too hard to switch phones

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/08

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

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34:19

The life-changing magic of touching stuff

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/07

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 —

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40:33

We finally have a Trump Phone | The Vergecast Livestream

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/06

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 Subscribe to The

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29:59

Our favorite tips for logging off

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/03

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! Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access

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101:41

The video game disc is dead

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/02

Things don't look great for console and game makers right now. With Xbox and PlayStation sales flagging, Microsoft preparing for big layoffs in its gaming division, and the price of everything on the rise, maybe it makes sense to save money where you can. You know, like making discs? David and Nilay discuss the end of the physical video game, before wondering whether Microsoft might be getting ready to get rid of Xbox altogether. After that, they talk about the new wave of hardware for AI coders,

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34:58

Rivian’s last chance to take on Tesla

The Vergecast ·

2026/07/01

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. Further reading: ⁠Range

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38:27

Meet The Onion's new and improved InfoWars

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/30

The Onion's takeover of conspiracy show InfoWars isn't officially complete — but comedian Tim Heidecker, who's serving as creative director, won't let that stop him from building out a slate of comedy programming. Before the new InfoWars launches July 2, The Verge's Mia Sato interviews Tim about what drew him to the project, how long he can (or wants to) maintain an Alex Jones parody, and whether it's worth doing an interview with The Verge when you've already done one with Wired. Further

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33:04

Our vibe coded projects that actually work

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/29

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. The more ambitious and impressive the better. We'll be back with the results

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83:32

Of course Meta thinks gambling is the future

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/26

Meta's business is doing just fine. But Meta as a company, and Meta as a series of products? That is, uh, messier. David and Nilay discuss the company's ongoing desire to be relevant and cool, the unceasing importance of Instagram, and why it makes perfect sense that Facebook would clone Polymarket. After that, the hosts talk about Apple's huge price increases, and the ways in which RAMageddon might change the gadget market forever. Then it's time for Brendan Carr is a dummy, the latest on the movie

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26:41

How to train your data

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/25

Training data is the raw material of the AI industry. Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and the rest are built on top of oceans of stuff. What is that stuff? Books. Blog posts. YouTube videos. Reddit comments. All of it and more, in virtually incomprehensible quantities. Alex Reisner, a staff writer at The Atlantic who has been investigating training data, explains how AI companies get all this data, why they'd really prefer you not know what's in it, and whether training data could ever be a fair

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35:23

Google's new speaker and your smart home questions

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/24

Google is shipping its first smart speaker in six years, and we're starting to test it. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show to explain why the Home Speaker matters, whether Google actually cares about the smart home, and more. Then, she helps answer a few questions from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about the power of Ikea and the future of your thermostat. Further reading: The Google Home Speaker sounds good and looks great — but

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43:03

Why Big Tech can't quit smart glasses

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/23

A huge portion of the tech industry has decided that smart glasses are the next big thing. But why? Smart glasses are incredibly hard to make, hugely socially complicated, and require users to want to wear a gadget on their face. The Verge's Victoria Song helps us figure out which features, if any, will make smart glasses worth all the trouble. Further reading: All these smart glasses and nothing to do Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive

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37:34

Is the Steam Machine worth the wait?

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/22

Valve has been trying to crack the living room for more than a decade, and the new Steam Machine is its best attempt yet. It's a little bit PC, a little bit console, and a lot pricy — starting at $1,049, it had a lot to live up to. The Verge’s Sean Hollister has been testing the device, and shares his findings on whether the Steam Machine can hang with PlayStation and Xbox. He also explains why, despite a never-ending list of challenges, Valve is still trying to make this device work. Further

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76:33

Version History: Harmony remote

The Vergecast ·

2026/06/19

The Harmony Universal Remote was supposed to be the only controller you needed for all the devices in your life. So what happened? David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Nilay Patel and John Higgins, as well as Nest co-founder (and current Harmony user) Matt Rogers, to follow the Harmony's timeline from its origins as the "Easy Zapper," through Logitech's acquisition, all the way to its slow death at the hands of smart TVs. And their vastly inferior remotes.If you like the show, ⁠⁠follow the

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