The Vergecast

Creator life involves using a lot of software. Bad software. Stephen Robles is one of the creators who decided to build something better, for himself and for his community. He tells David how he thinks about his responsibility as a developer, how he makes apps, and how AI is changing the way he builds things for his audience.

Further reading:

Apple teases MacBook Pro event next week

You Can See Everything has the biggest opening weekend for a doc in 20 years

TikTok says ban of Musk documentary account was ‘an error’

Video game ownership bill introduced in Congress

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Well, it's been a couple of days, and David and Nilay have some more information — and a bunch of new questions — about the Apple HomeView. They also talk about the latest Gemini model, and whether building the best model matters if you can't build the best products around them. They then debate the merits of returning to X, why none of the supposed Twitter replacements worked, the latest in Brendan Carr nonsense, and more.

Further reading:

HomeView doesn’t natively support any video apps yet — not even Apple’s

Apple’s new Find My-compatible remote will also work with your old Apple TV

The AI race is back on

Google finally releases Gemini 4 Argon

Google brings its AI coding platform to its Gemini app on Mac.

Google makes it easier to launch your vibe-coded apps

OpenAI employee arrested for allegedly planting a bug in a conference room

OpenAI claims an ex-employee took its product plans and presented them to Apple

Now that Character.AI is going bankrupt, what happens to all of its users’ data?

Daring Fireball: X Once Again Marks the Spot

Platformer: Does intelligence need a hard cap?

SpaceX announces plan to become a ‘major mobile carrier’

JPMorgan Chase is keeping AI agents out.

Xbox is officially embracing the chaos of AI-powered game ports

Global smartphone sales just hit a 14-year low.

Silicon Valley is falling in line with Trump’s attempt to rename AI

The US government launched a “Super Intelligence” website.

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0:00 CarPlay Banter01:36 HomeView App Confusion03:40 CarPlay as Home OS08:31 Apple Hardware Software Bet13:28 Should It Just Be an iPad?14:31 Gemini 4 Returns16:18 Meta Muse Strategy19:54 Google Product Dilemma26:28 OpenAI Bugging Scandal29:49 Character AI Bankruptcy32:31 Bankrupt Data Goldmine33:00 Privacy After Shutdown36:55 Why People Return to X39:35 Threads Fumbled It40:49 X Owns AI Talk49:17 Who Should Use X49:57 Reporters And Sources53:00 Video Platforms Win54:44 Gruber Gets It Wrong01:01:29 Brendan Carr is a Dummy01:02:40 Execution Livestream Fallout01:07:21 Sprint Merger Fallout01:08:48 Dish Spectrum to SpaceX01:09:44 Can Starlink Compete01:11:30 SpaceX Phone Rumors01:13:55 Smartphone Sales Slump01:18:37 Agents vs Websites01:24:21 Why UI Still Matters01:26:43 Super Intelligence Rebrand01:30:37 AI Game Decompiling01:36:35 Wrap Up and Plugs

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Meta just shipped a pair of smart glasses with no camera — a change that both David and The Verge's Victoria Song are excited about. But these glasses, like the new product from Amazon Bee and seemingly everything else now, are still ready and willing to record the world around you at all times. What do we do in a world where everything, everywhere, might be recording? And can tech companies figure out a way to make us feel better about it?

You have until Thursday to vote for us in the Signal Awards!

Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast

Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast

Vote Version History: Best History Podcast

Further reading:

Prep your cart before iPhone Duo preorders open tomorrow

OpenAI agrees not to use trade secrets it allegedly took from Apple

Your secrets aren’t safe with this cute robot toy — they’re on Chinese servers ready to be hacked

I don’t miss the camera on the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses

Amazon’s always-listening Bee wearable can now help you buy stuff

We can’t just change the definition of ‘recording’

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.

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A man named Mike Smith was recently sentenced to 18 months in prison, and a fine in excess of $8 million, for creating an AI system that faked billions of streams and earned him millions in royalties. Wired's Kate Knibbs explains how Smith pulled it off, how he got caught, and what this case means for the internet's growing slop problems.

Vote for us in the Signal Awards!

⁠Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast⁠

⁠Vote Version History: Best History Podcast⁠

⁠Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast⁠

Further reading:

⁠Apple’s HomeView ad is confusing to everyone except parents | The Verge⁠

⁠Ocarina of Time’s Switch 2 remake feels modern — and terrifying | The Verge⁠

⁠We might not have to wait 13 years for the next GTA | The Verge⁠

⁠Epic is bringing Fortnite to Linux | The Verge⁠

⁠JPMorgan Chase is keeping AI agents out. | The Verge⁠

⁠Wired: Spotify Confirms Streaming Fraud After Kalshi Trader Cries Foul⁠

Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.

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Apple just announced its long-rumored HomeView smart home hub. But that's not all... there are cameras, thermostats and a door lock co-developed with LG and Schneider Electric, refreshed HomePod Minis, even a new Apple TV 4K. The Verge's senior smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattinson Tuohy joined Nilay Patel and David Pierce LIVE to discuss and take your questions about Apple's massive play to take over your house.

You have until Thursday to vote for us in the Signal Awards!

Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast

Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast

Vote Version History: Best History Podcast

Further reading:

Apple launches HomeView, its first smart display for the home

The new Apple Home Collection includes a video doorbell, smart lock, and more

Apple announces the HomePod Mini 2, but it isn’t ready for Siri AI at launch

The new Apple TV 4K has built-in microphones so you can talk to Siri AI

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.
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