It's a slowish news week ahead of some very busy news weeks, so of course Nilay and David start the show with a long discussion about party speakers. Eventually, they get into the news, beginning with some of the huge Apple redesigns planned for WWDC in June. For the first time in a long time, the stakes for Apple's software teams feel really high. After that, the hosts talk about Nilay's recent interview with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and what the AI-ification of everything means for the future of the web. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for another Brendan Carr is a Dummy, plus some talk about the Nintendo Switch 2, a bit of confusing tariff news, and more.
Further reading:
Graduation and prom season in full force, Alan sends a graduation procession with a party speaker on… her head?
So so many softball and baseball games, Luis tips us to the Yankees
Incredible at a dentist office from Oktawian
Apple is reportedly going to rename all of its operating systems
Apple is ready to replace Game Center with a more Xbox-like gaming app
Get ready for Apple’s glassy operating systems overhaul.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
The New York Times’ first generative AI deal is with Amazon
The Browser Company explains why it stopped developing Arc
The plan for nationwide fiber internet might be upended for Starlink
FCC Commissioner Labels Trump Push to Chill Speech an ‘Administration-Wide Effort’
Carr's attack on Ergen looks gross
Shut Down the Federal Communications Commission
With the Switch, technology finally caught up to Nintendo
Nintendo’s bold new era is full of safe bets
The Nintendo Switch was an indie game haven, until it was overrun with slop
The Nintendo Switch 2 sure seems to work just fine with a USB mouse
There’s a Switch 2 unboxing video already.
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1:38:31
Inside the Meta monopoly trial
After more than a month of testimony, the Meta antirust trial is beginning to slow down. The Google search remedies trial, meanwhile, is about to heat up again, with closing arguments coming soon. The Verge’s Lauren Feiner has been in the DC courthouse for all of it, and has finally emerged to tell us about what she’s seen, and learned, from two all-important monopoly trials. After that, The Verge’s Victoria Song tells us about her latest experience with Google’s smart glasses prototypes, what Google is doing differently from Meta and Apple, and what she thinks Jony Ive and OpenAI might be building. Finally, we answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline about what to do now that Mozilla is shutting down Pocket.
FTC v. Meta: The antitrust battle over WhatsApp and Instagram
Did WhatsApp really need Meta?
Why the FTC argues Meta is a closer rival to MeWe than TikTok
Instagram CEO testifies about competing with TikTok: ‘You’re either growing, or you’re slowly dying’
Android XR is getting stylish partners in Warby Parker, Gentle Monster
Xreal teases Project Aura smart glasses for Android XR
We tried on Google’s prototype AI smart glasses
Android XR and Project Moohan hands-on: Gemini is the killer app
Mozilla is shutting down Pocket
Raindrop.io
Instapaper
Matter
Wallabag
Readwise Reader
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1:23:42
OpenAI and Jony Ive's AI super-gadget
Bad news if you don't care about AI: this week was absolutely chock-full of AI news. First, Nilay, David, and The Verge's Alex Heath talk about the news that OpenAI and Jony Ive are teaming up to build... something. A gadget, for sure, maybe lots of gadgets. We don't know much, but we have a lot of thoughts, and a lot of questions. After that, the hosts talk through all the news at Google I/O, including what's new with Gemini, Google Search, Project Astra, Project Mariner, and the countless other ways Google is putting AI absolutely everywhere. Finally, in the lightning round, we buckle up for another round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, talk through some late-breaking Apple gadget news, and marvel over the future of conference calls.
Further reading:
OpenAI is buying Jony Ive’s AI hardware company
From The Wall Street Journal: What Sam Altman Told OpenAI About the Secret Device He’s Making With Jony Ive
Details leak about Jony Ive’s new ‘screen-free’ OpenAI device
Jony Ive says Rabbit and Humane made bad products
The 15 biggest announcements at Google I/O 2025
Google launches AI Mode to everyone in the US, adds more features to AI Overviews
Google’s 3D video calling tech is finally going to ship this year
Project Astra 2025: Google’s universal AI assistant is now smarter and more proactive
Google has a new tool just for making AI videos
Google reveals $250 per month ‘AI Ultra’ plan
Google Meet can translate what you say into other languages
Google’s Gemini AI is coming to Chrome
Google says its new image AI can actually spell
Google will let you ‘try on’ clothes with AI
Google is bringing an ‘Agent Mode’ to the Gemini app
We tried on Google’s prototype AI smart glasses
Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott on the birth of the agentic web
Microsoft’s plan to fix the web: letting every website run AI search for cheap
Google rejected giving publishers more choice to opt out of AI Search
Google is stuffing even more ads into its AI results
Google’s Gemini AI is coming to Chrome
Google reveals $250 per month ‘AI Ultra’ plan
FCC Chairman Carr seeks to designate NBC equal time issue for hearing
FCC approves Verizon’s $20 billion merger after it commits to ‘ending’ DEI
Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you.
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1:53:50
The Razr Ultra proves flip phones are almost ready
Kids these days, you know? They love the '90s, they want everything to be colorful and bold and bouncy, and they really, truly love Snapchat. And the tech world is listening. On this episode, The Verge's Allison Johnson joins to talk about her review of the new Razr Ultra, the new-look Android 16, and why she thinks we're getting ever closer to a true flip phone resurgence. (Also: why we're not quite there yet.) After that, The Verge's Alex Heath explains what's going on with Snapchat, and how it's possible that the app is more popular than ever but still can't figure out how to cash in. It all makes us wonder: is there a business in chat at all? Finally, we answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about a possible outcome for Chrome after the Google search trial ends.
Further reading:
Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) review: looking sharp
The best folding phones you can buy
Android’s youthful new design language just dropped
Snapchat scraps ‘simple’ redesign as it loses users in North America
Zuckerberg offered to buy Snapchat for $6 billion.
Evan Spiegel explains why Snap is betting on Spectacles
Breaking down the DOJ’s plan to end Google’s search monopoly
Why are companies lining up to buy Chrome?
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1:12:51
HBO's no good very bad rebrand
Names are hard — but they don't have to be this hard. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes start the show with some personal news, before digging into the monumentally silly thinking behind Warner Bros. Discovery re-re-naming its streaming service HBO Max. After that, and some more streaming news, we turn our attention to the gadget news of the week, including the long-awaited release of CarPlay Ultra and the latest announcements from the Android team at Google. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, some debate on the future of Airbnb, and a brief party speaker update. Because the mystery continues.
Further reading:
It’s not Max, it’s HBO Max
Max was an all-time bad rebrand
How HBO’s creatives survived corporate chaos
ESPN’s standalone streaming app launches this fall for $30 a month
Fox One streaming service will arrive just in time for football season
Netflix’s ad tier is growing really fast — and that means more ads
Netflix is bringing back Star Search as a live show
YouTube will stream an opening week NFL game for free
Peacock’s NBA coverage will add an overlay with live shot stats
Apple’s CarPlay Ultra is finally here, if you have a new Aston Martin
Apple’s fancy new CarPlay will only work wirelessly
Android 16 Material Three Expressive UI coming in beta this month
Google’s splashy new Android UI is coming in beta this month.
It’s Dieter!
Warner Bros. is launching a cinematic universe for brands
Here's How NBCU Is Integrating Brand Sponsors for SNL50
FCC threatens EchoStar licenses for spectrum that SpaceX wants to use
Airbnb’s new app has all of your vacation extras in one place
Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you.
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The Vergecast is the flagship podcast from The Verge about small gadgets, Big Tech, and everything in between. Every Friday, hosts Nilay Patel and David Pierce hang out and make sense of the week’s most important technology news. And every Tuesday, David leads a selection of The Verge’s expert staffers in an exploration of how gadgets and software affect our lives – and which ones you should bring into yours.