Decoder with Nilay Patel

Razer CEO on AI in game dev, Grok, and anime waifus

We’re back to start the year with a very special live interview with Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, which we taped in front of a terrific audience at Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas during CES. At this year’s show, Razer made headlines for something it calls Project Ava, an AI companion that has a physical presence in the real world, as an anime hologram that sits in a jar on your desk. It’s powered by, you guessed it, Elon Musk’s Grok.  There are a whole lot of choices bundled up in all of that, as well as Razer’s decision to go all-in on AI at a moment when the gaming community is outright rejecting it. So Min and I really got into it. I think you’ll have a lot to think about with this one.  Links:  * Razer is making an AI anime waifu hologram for your desk | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/tech/854705/razer-ai-anime-waifu-hologram-desk] * Razer thinks you’d rather have AI headphones instead of glasses | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/tech/855307/razer-project-motoko-hands-on-wearable-ai-headphones] * Baldur’s Gate 3 studio says it won’t use AI for concept art or writing | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/games/859551/baldurs-gate-3-larian-studios-gen-ai-concept-art-reddit-ama] * In 2025, AI became a lightning rod for gamers and devs | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/848368/gen-ai-video-games-2025] * Razer plans $600M push to capture 'untapped' AI gaming demand | Bloomberg [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-06/razer-ceo-min-liang-tan-interview-at-ces-2026-strategy-investment-and-ai-focus] * Replika CEO says it’s okay if we end up marrying AI chatbots | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/24216748/replika-ceo-eugenia-kuyda-ai-companion-chatbots-dating-friendship-decoder-podcast-interview] * Lawsuits blame ChatGPT for suicides and harmful delusions | NYT [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/technology/chatgpt-lawsuit-suicides-delusions.html] * Inside three longterm relationships with AI chatbots | NYT [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/11/05/magazine/ai-chatbot-marriage-love-romance-sex.html] * Torment Nexus | Know Your Meme [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/torment-nexus] * The future of gaming is AI | Razer (Instagram) [https://www.instagram.com/p/DTJmdYkieb6/] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Rewind: How private equity kills companies and communities

Hey everyone, it’s Nilay. We’re settling back in here after the winter break and CES, and we’ll have new episodes for you starting next Monday. In the meantime, we wanted to highlight one of our favorites from last year: an interview with journalist and author Megan Greenwell about her book Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream. My conversation with Megan last year was extremely illuminating as to why private equity does what it does to industries like healthcare, media and real estate — and just how deeply it's affecting the everyday lives of Americans everywhere. It's a really great conversation that feels just as timely today as it did last summer. Enjoy.  Links:  * Bad Company | HarperCollins [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/bad-company-megan-greenwell?variant=43151012757538] * How private equity kills companies and communities | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/676106/bad-company-private-equity-megan-greenwell-book-interview] * Private equity bought out your doctor and bankrupted Toys ‘R’ Us | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/23758492/private-equity-brendan-ballou-plunder-finance-doj] * Private equity makes its first college sports play | Axios [https://www.axios.com/2025/12/10/private-equity-college-sports-utah] * Private equity Is gutting America — and getting away with it | NYT [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/opinion/private-equity.html] * I was fired from Deadspin for refusing to ‘stick to sports’ | NYT [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/11/opinion/deadspin-sports.html] * Will private equity be the next ‘Big Short’? | Marketplace [https://www.marketplace.org/story/2024/10/07/is-private-equity-in-trouble] * The profit-obsessed monster destroying American ERs | Vox [https://www.vox.com/health-care/374820/emergency-rooms-private-equity-hospitals-profits-no-surprises] * Why your vet bill is so high | The Atlantic [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/vet-private-equity-industry/678180/] * The investment firms leave behind a barren wasteland’ | Politico [https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/02/18/is-wall-street-to-blame-for-the-collapse-of-newspapers-00141920] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Dropout CEO Sam Reich on the business of subscription comedy

We’ve got something special for you today. It’s my friend Hank Green, longtime YouTuber, science educator, and viral TikTok star, interviewing Dropout CEO Sam Reich.  Hank did this episode as a guest host over the summer, and it’s a fan favorite, bringing together two internet personalities that’ve known each other for a very long time and who have a lot of inside knowledge about how the internet, Hollywood, and entertainment all intertwine. Links:  * Dropout’s Sam Reich on business, comedy, and keeping the internet weird | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/781331/hank-green-sam-reich-dropout-collegehumor-game-changer] * How Dropout broke through in 2025 | AV Club [https://www.avclub.com/how-dropout-broke-through-in-2025-tv-comedy] * Dropout CEO on launching ‘Superfan’ tier, crossing 1M subscribers | Variety [https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/dropout-superfan-tier-price-explained-sam-reich-1236564699/] * How CollegeHumor reinvented itself for the new internet age | People [https://people.com/what-happened-to-collegehumor-how-it-reinvented-for-new-internet-age-exclusive-8778836] * CollegeHumor shaped online comedy. What went wrong? [2020] | Wired [https://www.wired.com/story/collegehumor/] * ‘I believe in this enough to try to do it myself’ [2020] | Digiday [https://digiday.com/media/collegehumor-sam-reich-future-potential/] * Jacob Wysocki needed a minute to process that Game Changer | Vulture [https://www.vulture.com/article/jacob-wysocki-dropout-game-changer-interview.html] * Game Changer smartly weaponizes its online following | Mashable [https://mashable.com/article/game-changer-season-7-episode-8-fools-gold-social-media-sam-reich] * Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer is betting on the human touch | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/616820/philip-moyer-interview-vimeo-ai-google-youtube-creators] * Vimeo to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $1.38B | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/news/775701/vimeo-bending-spoons-acquisition] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

What’s next for Netflix and Paramount in the Warner Bros. battle

Hey everyone, it’s Nilay. Decoder is on our holiday break. We’ve got a lot of fun stuff coming up in the New Year, though, including a special Decoder Live at CES. Stay tuned for more details, including how to RSVP for free tickets. In the meantime, we’ve got a great episode of the podcast Channels, featuring two of the best media reporters in the business. Host Peter Kafka sat down with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to talk about the bidding war between Paramount SkyDance and Netflix over Warner Bros. Discovery. It’s the biggest story in entertainment right now, and this episode breaks down everything you need to know about the contentious acquisition.  Links:  * "Neither Side Is Used to Losing”: Lucas Shaw on the battle for Warner Bros. | Channels [https://podcasts.apple.com/bm/podcast/neither-side-is-used-to-losing-lucas-shaw-on-whats/id1080467174?i=1000741661922] * Five things we’re getting wrong about Warner Bros.′ Netflix deal | Bloomberg [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-12-14/five-things-we-re-getting-wrong-about-warner-bros-netflix-deal?srnd=undefined] * Warner Bros.’ bidders brace for a fight that will last months | Bloomberg [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-10/warner-bros-bidders-brace-for-a-fight-that-will-last-months?srnd=undefined] * WBD wants its shareholders to reject Paramount’s latest offer | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/846425/warner-bros-discovery-board-rejection-paramount-skydance-hostile-bid] * There are no good outcomes for the Warner Bros. sale | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/streaming/841581/warner-bros-netflix-paramount-skydance-ellison-hostile-bid] * Netflix is “100% committed” to releasing WB films in theaters | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/news/846450/netflix-is-100-committed-to-releasing-wb-films-in-theaters] * Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $83 billion | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/news/838781/netflix-warner-bros-discover-bids-buyout] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

"All chaos and panic": Nilay answers your burning Decoder questions

Hey everyone! Decoder senior producers Kate Cox and Nick Statt here. We’ve had a big year, including nearly 100 episodes, a new YouTube channel, an ad-free podcast feed, and a slate of great guest hosts while Nilay was on parental leave. It’s been a lot! We’ve also had a lot of great questions and comments this year from you, our audience. So we pulled together all the feedback we’ve received on topics like CarPlay, Monday episode guest suggestions, and — of course — AI. And then we turned the tables on Nilay to ask him his thoughts on the past 12 months: What we liked, what we want to improve, and how he’s making decisions for Decoder in the new year.  Links:  * Answering your biggest Decoder questions, 2024 edition | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/24325789/decoder-mailbag-2024-answering-questions-feedback-youtube-spotify-podcast] * The DoorDash Problem | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/823909/the-doordash-problem-ai-agents-web-amazon-perplexity-lawsuit] * How decision making changes when AI answers are cheap and (too) easy | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/703269/cassie-kozyrkov-interview-ai-google-decision-scientist] * Why GM will give you Gemini — but not CarPlay | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/803379/gm-ceo-mary-barra-sterling-anderson-cadillac-iq-ev-autonomy-interview] * Rivian CEO: ‘We’re really convicted’ about skipping CarPlay | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/podcast/790685/rivian-ceo-rj-scaringe-r2-tariffs-china-ev-apple-carplay] * How SharkNinja took over the home, with CEO Mark Barrocas | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/695613/sharkninja-ceo-mark-barrocas-interview-flexflame-grill-home-appliance] * Why Tubi CEO Anjali Sud thinks free TV can win again | Decoder [https://www.theverge.com/24178580/tubi-ceo-free-tv-streaming-ads-decoder-podcast-interview] * Disney accuses Google of copyright infringement following OpenAI deal | The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/news/842573/disney-google-copyright-infringement-cease-and-desist] Subscribe to The Verge [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe] to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]