The Vergecast

We're all starting to test Apple's newest software post-WWDC, and the most surprising thing has happened: Siri actually seems to be pretty good now. Nilay and David discuss how that happened, and what it means for the AI industry, and all of us, that Apple's voice assistant is finally useful. Then, we have some news about Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube that adds up to a big change in social networks, plus the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr, the Trump Phone, and a really great deal for iPad users Further reading: Apple announces Siri AI and its next generation of Apple Intelligence I tried Siri AI, and so far it actually works Apple’s new Siri AI knows when to shut up I’m relieved Siri AI isn’t trying to be a health coach You can just tell the Instagram algorithm what you want now YouTube is introducing DMs (again) Bluesky is getting ‘communities’ Anthropic releases its first Mythos-class model Claude Fable Claude Fable won’t answer basic biology questions Anthropic apologizes for invisible Claude Fable guardrails Microsoft restricts Claude Fable for employees over data retention concerns YouTube is introducing DMs (again) Bluesky is getting ‘communities’ iFixit Trump phone teardown confirms it’s an HTC dupe Solar has overtaken coal in the US for the first time AT&T is launching $3 ‘unlimited’ day passes for iPads 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.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:00 New Siri is good 00:04:00 Search Index Breakthrough 00:08:00 Cloud vs On Device 00:11:00 Siri Upends AI Apps 00:20:00 Where Is The Computer 00:24:00 EU Interoperability Fight 00:31:00 Social News Lightning Trio 00:33:00 Mosseri Algorithm Control 00:35:00 Bluesky Communities 00:37:00 YouTube DMs Social Push 00:41:00 Bluesky Bets on Communities 00:50:00 Talking to Your Algorithm 00:51:00 AI Made-to-Order Instagram 00:54:00 Bespoke Apps Break Reality 01:01:00 Hype Desk 01:02:00 Social Reckoning Trailer Breakdown and Casting 01:14:00 CBS News Meltdown 01:17:00 Carr vs Newsrooms 01:20:00 SpaceX IPO Favors 01:24:00 Claude Fable Guardrails 01:30:00 Trump Phone Teardown 01:34:00 AT&T iPad Day Pass 01:36:00 Solar Beats Coal 01:38:00 Signoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that we've had a couple of days to digest all the Siri AI updates, the new corner radii, and everything else Apple announced at its developer conference, we spend the episode answering all your most burning questions. What non-AI stuff are we excited about? How much catching up did Siri really do this week? And wait: what about the HomePod? Further reading: ⁠WWDC 2026: All the news from Apple’s developers conference⁠ ⁠5 things I already love from the iOS 27 beta⁠ ⁠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

Apple's annual developer conference keynote was a strange one this year. The company breezed by its normal slew of operating system upgrades, and talked instead about helping people manage their relationships with their devices, and AI. Lots and lots of AI. On this post-keynote livestream, David Pierce, Hayden Field, and Jake Kastrenakes give their first takes on Siri AI, the Apple Intelligence features coming this fall, Apple's new Screen Time design, and everything else we liked and disliked from the keynote. Including the corner radii. Further reading: ⁠Apple WWDC 2026: The 7 biggest announcements⁠ 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.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:00 Why This Keynote Felt Chaotic 00:05:00 AI Takes Center Stage 00:06:00 Apple Plays Catch Up 00:09:00 Privacy and Private Cloud 00:12:00 Useful Versus Creepy AI 00:18:00 Why Apple Went All In 00:25:00 New Siri Voice 00:33:00 Siri App Intents 00:37:00 Vibe Coding Shortcuts 00:39:00 Siri Goes Orb Mode 00:41:00 Too Many Siri Gestures 00:42:00 Apple Trust and Screen Time 00:46:00 Kids Safety and App Responsibility 00:50:00 App Store Dissonance and Regulation 00:52:00 OS 27 Device Cutoffs 00:59:00 Favorite Features and Liquid Glass 01:04:00 Dictation Confusion and Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft's commitment to AI is not news. Copilot has been everywhere for... a while now. But at this week's Build developer conference, the company made clear that it wants — and needs — to be a bigger player in the space. The Verge's Tom Warren joins David to talk about the new Scout AI assistant, the Solara operating system concept, and whether Microsoft can hang with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Also: How's the new era of Xbox going? We’re also on video! Check us out on YouTube. 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

Nvidia is betting that AI is going to change the way you use your computer — and with a new chip, the RTX Spark, it's hoping to ensure it powers that new-fangled AI machine. During a big week for the PC industry, with the Computex trade show and Microsoft's Build developer conference happening simultaneously, The Verge's Sean Hollister explains what's inside the Spark, why Nvidia is taking on Apple, Intel, AMD, and the rest of the chip industry, and whether the world's most valuable company has a shot at reinventing the personal computer. Without costing a fortune. Nvidia announces RTX Spark as ‘the most efficient PC chip ever built’ This is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra with Nvidia RTX Spark These are the first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops AMD’s new pitch: our old tech is so good you should just keep using it We’re also on video! Check us out on YouTube. 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 Ferrari Luce is here, and suffice to say it is not the electric Ferrari anyone expected. Nilay and David dig into the Jony Ive-designed car, from its marvelously appointed interior to its decidedly non-Ferrari-like exterior. (You might even call it... Nissan Leaf-like.) After that, the hosts discuss some of the latest backlash against AI, Google's ongoing AI-based changes to Search, and AI content labels. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, some deeply nerdy display tech, and the incredible rising price of everything. Further reading: ⁠Ferrari reveals its first EV, with design help from Jony Ive ⁠ ⁠Jony Ive’s Ferrari looks nothing like a Ferrari ⁠ ⁠This Ferrari should have been a Volkswagen ⁠ ⁠Ferrari’s stock plummets after disappointing Luce unveil. ⁠ ⁠‘If I were to say what I think, I would be hurting Ferrari.’ ⁠ ⁠All the news about Ferrari’s polarizing Luce EV⁠ ⁠YouTube is putting AI labels where you’ll actually see them⁠ ⁠People sure do hate Google’s AI Search updates.⁠ ⁠Pope Leo warns of the risks of AI in major papal document ⁠ ⁠The Pope isn’t AGI-pilled ⁠ ⁠Did the Pope use AI to write about the dangers of AI? ⁠ ⁠Sony’s first RGB TV is a statement piece⁠ ⁠Facebook launches a ‘Plus’ subscription that gives you extra features ⁠ ⁠Valve raises Steam Deck prices by more than $200 ⁠ ⁠It’s not stopping any time soon. ⁠ ⁠The golden age of handheld gaming is already over⁠ 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 Daily Vergecast Era 00:03:00 Ferrari First EV 00:06:00 Why Luce Looks Wrong 00:07:00 Media Junket Ethics 00:08:00 Apple Car Vibes Inside 00:10:00 Comparisons to Leaf 00:13:00 Ferrari Legend Backlash 00:16:00 EVs Should Feel Normal 00:19:00 Cadillac EV Counterpoint 00:23:00 Jony Ive Constraints Debate 00:30:00 Anti AI Search Shift 00:32:00 Google Search Randomness 00:37:00 Beta Testing Users 00:42:00 Personalized Buying Future 00:45:00 Bad AI Products Everywhere 00:46:00 YouTube AI Labels 00:49:00 Auto Detection Doubts 00:51:00 Ads Versus AI Opt Out 00:52:00 Pope On Humanity 00:55:00 Uber Questions Productivity 01:03:00 Brendan Carr’s Hard Hat 01:07:00 Meta Subscription Squeeze 01:14:00 Sony RGB Backlight TVs 01:19:00 Roku Home Screen Ads 01:21:00 Gaming Prices Spike 01:26:00 Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we get into this week's tech news, we have some corporate news to discuss, and some very exciting Vergecast news to share. (If you have questions about either one, hit us up: vergecast@theverge.com or 866-VERGE11!) Then, Nilay and David get back into the weeds on all things Google I/O, and in particular the ways AI is changing the Google Search experience. When Gemini can find things for you, make things for you, even buy things for you, are you even searching anymore? Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr is a Dummy, SpaceX, the Trump Phone, and some very confusing social networks. Further reading: The future of Google is a search box that does everything Google is building a ‘universal’ AI shopping cart that tracks prices, offers suggestions, and finds discounts Demis Hassabis said this might be the ‘foothills of the singularity.’ What? Google is trying to make deepfake detection more accessible Google Search’s AI evolution includes more ads Google’s AI future demands trust — and your personal data Why does the Googlebook exist? The FCC voted to ‘streamline’ tracking US broadband quality. In SpaceX’s IPO, Elon Musk is the risk factor Spotify is verifying podcasts made by real people too. NBC just got the Trump phone. 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.) 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 Vox Media Sale 00:08:00 What Changes for The Verge 00:12:00 Vergecast Goes Daily 00:18:00 Feedback and Launch Details 00:23:00 Google I O Vibe Check 00:24:00 Agents Everywhere at Google 00:25:00 Search Becomes the Platform 00:26:00 Singularity Talk Whiplash 00:31:00 Monetizing AI and Google Zero 00:37:00 Shopping Web Takes Over 00:39:00 Agents Replace Browsing 00:43:00 Canvas Makes Apps 00:49:00 Google Book Devices Pitch 00:51:00 Agents Break App Economics 00:53:00 Traffic Deal Is Over 01:01:00 Hype Desk Forza Horizon 6 01:07:00 Subnautica 2 Surprise Hit 01:11:00 Brendan Carr is a Dummy 01:14:00 Broadband Map Complaints 01:21:00 Spotify AI Whiplash 01:25:00 Deepfake Detection Reality 01:30:00 SpaceX IPO Breakdown 01:34:00 Trump Phone In Wild 01:37:00 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices