Meta's new smart glasses look like the future
The Verge's Alex Heath joins Nilay, Alex, and David to talk about all the announcements coming out of Meta Connect: the impressive (and expensive) Orion glasses, the new features for the Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, and lots and lots of new AI. Then they discuss the latest executive departures at OpenAI, as the industry's foremost AI company undergoes a huge shift. In the lightning round, it's time for more AI gadgets, the PS5 Pro... and then some more AI gadgets. Further reading: Meta Connect 2024: biggest news and announcements Hands-on with Orion, Meta’s first pair of AR glasses Meta’s Ray-Bans will now ‘remember’ things for you Why Mark Zuckerberg thinks AR glasses will replace your phone Meta’s VR app store is about to fill up with phone-style 2D apps Mark Zuckerberg: creators and publishers ‘overestimate the value’ of their work for training AI Meta’s AI can now talk to you in the voices of Awkwafina, John Cena, and Judi Dench Kristen Bell told Instagram to ‘get rid of AI’ before she became its official voice OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is leaving Just 5,000 people use the Rabbit R1 every day Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: big upgrade, much smaller earbuds I played the PS5 Pro, and it’s clearly better Inside Jony Ive’s Life After Apple and His LoveFrom Design Business 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
27 Sep 20241h 44min
They think they’re building God
Kylie Robison joins the show to talk about OpenAI’s new model, o1, and what this new “reasoning” model says about the state of the art in AI — and what AI companies are willing to put up with in the name of building God. Then, Gaby Del Valle and Adi Robertson talk through the latest on the TikTok ban, the Trump crypto chaos, and the ongoing adtech antitrust trial against Google. (All with as little politics-talk as possible.) Further reading: OpenAI releases new o1 reasoning model OpenAI’s new model is better at reasoning and, occasionally, deceiving TikTok ban: all the news on attempts to ban the video platform TikTok oral arguments will weigh security risks against free speech TikTok faces a skeptical panel of judges in its existential fight against the US government Donald Trump is hawking tokens for a crypto project he still hasn’t explained US v. Google redux: all the news from the ad tech trial How Google got away with charging publishers more than anyone else 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
24 Sep 20241h 10min
The chatbot becomes the teacher
For the first episode in our new miniseries about the impact of AI in our everyday lives, we chat with Steven Johnson, a longtime author who has spent the last couple of years at Google working on an AI research and note-taking tool called NotebookLM. We talk about whether AI can really help us learn better, how Google has tried to make NotebookLM more accurate and helpful, and whether AI-generated podcasts are the future of learning. Further reading: NotebookLM Steven Johnson’s website / newsletter From Steven Johnson: Listening To The Algorithm Google teases Project Tailwind — a prototype AI notebook that learns from your documents Google’s AI-powered note-taking app is the messy beginning of something great Google is using AI to make fake podcasts from your notes 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
22 Sep 20241h
You’re cute no matter what phone you have
Nilay, Alex, and David are joined by Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern to talk about this year’s iPhone – and Joannabot, the AI chatbot Joanna made to help you make buying decisions. They also answer some questions about the new phones as Apple gets ready to ship them. They also talk about Snap’s new Spectacles, the future of YouTube communities, Instagram teens, and AI social networks. Further reading: Our iPhone 16 Review, Brought To You By a Joanna Stern AI Chatbot Snap releases new Spectacles for AR developers Snapchat’s AI selfie feature puts your face in personalized ads — here’s how to turn it off Snap announces “Simple Snapchat” redesign to compete with TikTok Evan Spiegel explains why Snap is betting on Spectacles Meta extends its Ray-Ban smart glasses deal beyond 2030 YouTube’s new Hype feature is a way to promote and discover smaller creators YouTube integrates AI for creators through Veo and the Inspiration tab YouTube Communities let fans and viewers chat and post with creators YouTube confirms your pause screen is now fair game for ads YouTube is adding ‘seasons’ to make your favorite channel more like Netflix SocialAI: we tried the Twitter clone where no other humans are allowed Lionsgate signs deal to train AI model on its movies and shows 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
20 Sep 20241h 34min
Reviewing the iPhone 16
We've finally finished testing, scoring, and reviewing Apple's new gear for the fall. On this episode we talk through our reviews of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, the Apple Watch 10, and the AirPods 4, to see whether they're real upgrades and whether they're worth your money. And then, on the Vergecast Hotline (866-VERGE11), we make the case for the Pixel in 2024. 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
18 Sep 20241h 37min
The great Evernote reboot
Peak Evernote was roughly a decade ago. Since then, the product has often felt stagnant (or worse), the company churned through executives and business plans, and it seemed like Evernote was slowly turning into a zombie app. Not gone, not even forgotten, just sort of... there. For the third and final installment in our series about productivity and digital life, we sit down with Federico Simionato, the Evernote product lead at Bending Spoons. We talk about the acquisition process, how he perceives Evernote in today’s landscape, what it took to start shipping new stuff again, why Bending Spoons changed the subscription price, and much more. 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
15 Sep 20241h
The real cost of the PS5 Pro
Nilay, David, and Alex talk about the new PlayStation 5 Pro — why it's so expensive, why it doesn't have a disc drive, and why it made so many people feel feelings. They also talk about the fallout from this week's iPhone launch, the first days of the Google ad trial, Kamala Harris's earrings, Huawei's triple-folding phone, and much more. Further reading: PS5 Pro: all the news about Sony’s next console Sony’s PS5 Pro has a larger GPU, advanced ray tracing, and AI upscaling The $700 PS5 Pro doesn’t come with a disc drive Sony’s new PS5 heralds the end of disc drives Here are all the games enhanced by PS5 Pro PlayStation 5 Pro comparison: What’s different from the regular PS5? Sony will sell you a refurbished PS5 if you don’t want to drop $700 on a Pro The people want disc drives. Microsoft lays off 650 more Xbox employees No, Kamala Harris wasn’t wearing these audio earrings These are real earrings — and also real earbuds Google Pixel Watch 3 review: third time’s the charm Huawei’s new tri-fold phone costs more than a 16-inch MacBook Pro Here’s a closer look at the Huawei Mate XT triple-screen foldable The Meta Quest 3S leaks in Meta’s own PC app Google and the DOJ’s ad tech fight is all about control Google dominates online ads, says antitrust trial witness, but publishers are feeling ‘stuck’ WhatsApp will send messages to other apps soon — here’s how it will look The US finally takes aim at truck bloat Google is using AI to make fake podcasts from your notes Facebook and Instagram are making AI labels less prominent on edited content 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
13 Sep 20241h 38min
The iPhone 16 is here — but it's not finished
Apple launched the iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 at its annual fall event in Cupertino. The devices come with some big upgrades — a new camera control on the iPhone, a new design on the Watch — but also a lot of promises about AI. Today on the show, we discuss everything that's new, everything that's missing, and all the reasons you might or might not want to upgrade your Apple gear this year. Further reading: iPhone 16 event live blog: all the news from Apple’s keynote iPhone 16 event: all the news from Apple’s keynote Apple announces the iPhone 16 with a faster processor and Camera Control button Apple announces the iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max hands-on: don't call it a shutter button Apple Watch Series 10 announced with bigger screen and thinner design The AirPods Pro 2 will soon double as hearing aids iOS 18 will launch next week with new ways to customize your homescreen Apple announces AirPods 4 with noise cancellation and better sound AirPods 4 hands-on: noise cancellation for people who hate ear tips Apple has a faster MagSafe charger to go with the new iPhone 16 phones Apple has a faster MagSafe charger to go with the new iPhone 16s It sure looks like FineWoven is dead Apple’s Visual Intelligence is a built-in take on Google Lens Beats’ new iPhone 16 cases work with the Camera Control button 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
10 Sep 20241h 39min
