The race to win AI — and hack iMessage

Happy holidays! Before we disappear into family time and catching up on our favorite shows, we have one more episode for you. And it's 90 minutes of deep nerdery about the smart home. Every year, we try to dig into one standard or spec that has impacted our lives this year, and we couldn't think of anything more potentially great and occasionally infuriating than Matter. Matter is supposed to be the protocol that makes the smart home work — so, uh, how's that going? The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins to discuss the state of the smart home, before we play a game to see how well we understand things. Then, Home Assistant creator Paulus Schoutsen tells us what it's like to try and make Matter work, and where we might be headed next year. Further reading: Matter: everything you need to know about the new smart home protocol Matter’s plan to save the smart home The Thread 1.4 spec is here, but it will be a while until we see any benefit What is Thread and how will it help your smart home? Every device that works with Matter (December 2024) Home Assistant’s next era begins now The Home Assistant Green is here to make the most powerful smart home platform more accessible 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 Dec 20241h 53min

The Verge's Victoria Song and Kylie Robison join the show to talk about all of Google's recent AI and XR announcements, and the company's big and Gemini-powered vision for the future of computing. Then Chris Grant, the group publisher for Polygon and The Verge, explains why GTA VI and the Nintendo Switch 2 are so important to the future of gaming — plus a few predictions about how they'll turn out. Finally, The Verge's Helen Havlak answers a hotline question about how she plans her garden in Figma. Which is a real thing she really does. Further reading: The Vergecast at CES – come see us on January 8th! Google launched Gemini 2.0, its new AI model for practically everything Google’s AI enters its ‘agentic era’ I saw Google’s plan to put Android on your face GTA VI: all the news on Rockstar’s next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series Switch 2: all the news and rumors on Nintendo’s next console 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

17 Dec 20241h 35min

For the second episode in our two-part 2025 preview, Nilay and David are once again joined by Wall Street Journal columnist (and friend of The Verge) Joanna Stern to talk about what will, and won't, happen in tech next year. This time, David joins us after a quick jaunt to the end of next year, and relays a bunch of things that happened in tech in 2025. But some of them are lies. Joanna and Nilay have to decide which things really will happen next year, and which won't. As always, the hosts get points for good guesses and negative points for bad ones. And once we're all in late 2025, we'll declare a winner. 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 Dec 202454min

Nilay, David, and The Verge's Richard Lawler talk about a big week in AI news. First, they go over all the latest on Google's Gemini 2.0 launch, and try to figure out whether Project Astra and Project Mariner will ever turn into products people use. They also discuss OpenAI's release (and un-release) of Sora, the new Reddit Answers tool, and what's new in iOS 18.2. Finally, in the lightning round, there's talk of YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Sonos, and Cruise. There also is and isn't talk of quantum computing. Because that's possible now. Further reading: Google’s AI enters its ‘agentic era’  Gemini 2.0: what’s new in Google’s new flagship AI model Google’s AI-powered smart glasses are a little closer to being real  Google’s new Jules AI agent will help developers fix buggy code Google is testing Gemini AI agents that help you in video games Google built an AI tool that can do research for you Android XR_Keyword OpenAI has finally released Sora iOS 18.2 is out now, adding ChatGPT integration and more Apple Intelligence tools ChatGPT’s side-by-side ‘Canvas’ view is now available to everyone.  Reddit’s new AI search tool helps you find Reddit answers without Google YouTube is still growing fast on TVs in the living room Instagram will let creators test experimental reels on random people It sure sounds like Trump would be okay with a TikTok sale TikTok failed to save itself with the First Amendment Sonos Arc Ultra review: don’t call it a comeback (yet) Google reveals quantum computing chip with ‘breakthrough’ achievements Amazon’s online car ‘dealership’ with Hyundai is now live YouTube’s AI-powered dubbing is now available to many more creators Searching for color at Pantone’s all-brown party  Adam Mosseri on introducing Trial Reels From WSJ: iOS 18.2 Review: The AI Apple Promised Us 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 Dec 20241h 28min

A week ago, The Verge launched a subscription. And you had questions! So we have answers. The Verge’s Helen Havlak and Nilay Patel join the show to talk about how we priced the subscription, why ad-free podcasts are hard to do, Apple News, what we do during ad breaks, and much more. And if we didn’t answer your question, let us know! Call the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11, or email vergecast@theverge.com, with all your questions. Thanks to everyone who sent them in! Further reading: Nilay's post about The Verge subscription Subscribe to The Verge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 Dec 20241h 27min

Welcome to our two-part preview of the year to come! For the first installment, Nilay, David, and Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern bring all the predictions for 2025 — their mildest, medium-est, and spiciest ideas about the year to come. Each host presents their take on TikTok bans, social platforms, smart homes, streaming services, and more, and the others get to decide whether they agree. Whoever gets the most right at the end of the year will win a big prize. (There's a points system for determining all that, but we'll figure that out later.) 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

8 Dec 20241h 6min

Nilay and David talk a bit about this week’s launch of the Verge subscription, plus what’s coming next. (There’s still time to send questions for next week! 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com.) Then they talk about the streaming news of the week, and the ways streaming services are continuing to act like cable companies. Then Kylie Robison joins to talk about the lowering stakes for AGI, shipmas at OpenAI, and more. Finally, in the lighting round, it’s crypto and browsers and Intel. And more crypto. Further reading: Here we go: The Verge now has a subscription ESPN is coming to the Disney Plus app starting today Max is testing always-on HBO channels Max is finally about to start cracking down on password sharing. Walmart bought Vizio  OpenAI’s 12 days of ‘shipmas’ include Sora and new reasoning model Sam Altman says AGI will “matter much less” than people expect Sam Altman on Elon Musk and OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft. ChatGPT’s search results for news are ‘unpredictable’ and frequently inaccurate Stop using generative AI as a search engine Misinformation expert admits ChatGPT added fake details to his anti-deepfake court filing Bitcoin just hit $100,000  Dia is the The Browser Company’s AI-powered follow-up to Arc Threads takes an important baby step toward true fediverse integration Threads’ next update is a search feature that finds the post you’re looking for Meta says it’s mistakenly removing too many posts Intel’s CEO is out after only three years What happened to Intel? Trump picks two nominees who could decide the fate of Big Tech and crypto  Spotify Wrapped 2024 adds an AI podcast to recap your listening habits Apple Music’s yearly recap is finally available in the app 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

6 Dec 20241h 38min

The Verge's Thomas Ricker joins the show with an update on his question to live the #vanlife. He shares stories about Starlink Mini, the new Peak Design backpack everyone loves, converting a Sprinter van to a mobile apartment, and more. Then, The Verge's Andru Marino takes us through his tests on a bunch of new creator- and social-friendly microphones, which plug into your phone and promise to make everything sound better. Finally, we answer a question about web browsers on the Vergecast Hotline. (Don't forget to send us your questions about The Verge and The Vergecast for next week's episode! Call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com with all your most meta questions.) Further reading: Starlink Mini review: space internet goes ultraportable Peak Design’s Outdoor Backpack is a more versatile everyday bag Stoke Voltaics’ portable electric cookware review This backpack solar generator can help you ignore nature This little box provides on-demand power when off the grid Living and working from an all-electric VW ID Buzz DJI’s new wireless mics skip a few features to get smaller and lighter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 Dec 20241h 15min