The Vergecast

It’s time. The public betas for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and more are finally out for everyone to try. Jake Kastrenakes, Vee Song, and Antonio G. Di Benedetto give their takes on Apple’s Liquid Glass design language after two months of living with it. Antonio shares his experiences with macOS and the upgraded Spotlight, and Vee dives into the ups and downs of watchOS’s AI fitness coach. Then, Andy Hawkins and Eater's Matthew Kang talk about Tesla’s rough quarter, the new Tesla Diner, and what Epic Bacon has to do with it all. Finally, the Thunder Round returns, and we all learn what Labubus are. Further reading: * ⁠Apple releases public betas of its new software updates with Liquid Glass⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/695142/apple-public-betas-liquid-glass-ios-macos-26] * How to install the iOS 26 public beta [https://www.theverge.com/695230/ios-26-beta-install-how-to] * The biggest changes coming to your iPhone with iOS 26 [https://www.theverge.com/news/683738/apple-iphone-ios-26-changes-liquid-glass-wwdc-2025] * ⁠Liquid Glass is fine, I guess⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/mobile/710980/apple-ios-26-preview-liquid-glass-ux] * ⁠Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign is shaping up to be a snoozer on Macs⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/tech/711358/apple-macos-tahoe-26-public-beta-impressions-macbook-liquid-glass] * You can actually multitask on an iPad now and it’s the best new feature in 15 years [https://www.theverge.com/hands-on/712266/you-can-actually-multitask-on-an-ipad-now-and-its-the-best-new-feature-in-15-years] * watchOS 26 preview: a subtler take on AI [https://www.theverge.com/hands-on/710780/watchos-26-preview-apple-intelligence-workout-buddy-smart-stack-wrist-flick] * ⁠Apple launches $20 subscription service to protect your gadgets⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/711972/apple-applecare-one-subscription-multiple-devices] * Tesla’s earnings hit a new low, with largest revenue drop in years [https://www.theverge.com/news/712256/tesla-earnings-q2-2025-revenue-profit-elon-musk] * Elon Musk finally admits the new, more affordable Tesla is just a stripped down Model Y [https://www.theverge.com/tesla/712738/elon-musk-finally-admits-the-new-more-affordable-tesla-is-just-a-stripped-down-model-y] * Undeterred by limits, Elon Musk plots a big robotaxi expansion [https://www.theverge.com/tesla/712703/tesla-robotaxi-fsd-elon-musk-earnings-q2-2025] * Everything Eater Editors Ate at the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles [https://la.eater.com/scene-report/287082/tesla-diner-los-angeles-food-dishes-tech-design-review] * The Full Tesla Diner Menu, Revealed [https://la.eater.com/restaurant-openings/287015/tesla-diner-los-angeles-full-menu-reveal] * The Tesla Diner Will Track When Guests Are Nearby to Prepare Their Orders [https://la.eater.com/restaurant-openings/286984/tesla-diner-los-angeles-ordering-geofence] * Inside the New Tesla Diner in Los Angeles [https://la.eater.com/restaurant-openings/286960/tesla-diner-elon-musk-los-angeles-restaurant-opening-july-21] * Anti-Elon Musk protesters are coming for Tesla’s new diner [https://www.theverge.com/news/711701/tesla-diner-protest-demonstration-elon-musk-trump-doge] * Faraday Future is back with another wild EV that probably will never get made [%E2%81%A0https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/711000/faraday-future-fx-van-reveal-ai-face-grille%E2%81%A0] * Amazon buys Bee AI [%E2%81%A0https://www.theverge.com/news/711621/amazon-bee-ai-wearable-acquisition%E2%81%A0] * Jake: AppleCare One is a good deal, but not for everyone [%E2%81%A0https://www.theverge.com/tech/712429/applecare-one-warranty-play-cost-versus-plus-plan-analysis%E2%81%A0] * Uber’s making it easier for women riders and drivers to find each other [%E2%81%A0https://www.theverge.com/news/711542/uber-women-driver-preference-feature%E2%81%A0] * The frenzied, gamified chase for Labubus [%E2%81%A0https://www.theverge.com/analysis/710047/labubu-pop-mart-blind-boxes-scarcity-marketing%E2%81%A0] Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Summer blockbusters like the new Superman and Jurassic World movies may be doing great at the box office, but promoting them is more complicated than ever. The old celebrity playbook of magazine profiles, TV chat shows and press junkets isn’t enough in an era of audience fragmentation. Publicists now have to strategize which podcasts to make time for, and whether their clients will eat chicken on YouTube with Amelia Dimoldenberg or Sean Evans. This week on The Vergecast, guest host Mia Sato talks to Vulture’s Fran Hoepfner to break down the ever-changing new media circuit, whether you’re a beloved A-lister, a formerly-beloved A-lister, or an aspiring A-lister. Then, we take a deep dive with Sarah Fackrell into a controversial legal tactic brands are using to go after online sellers hawking everything from grumpy cat T-shirts to closet hooks. Finally, Victoria Song joins Mia to answer a Vergecast hotline from a listener wondering whether an AI translator will be able to keep up with his partner’s Colombian mother. If you’ve got a question for us, call 866-VERGE11 or e-mail vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com]. Further reading: * Box Office: ‘Superman’ Surpasses $400 Million Globally, ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Nears $650 Million Milestone [https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/box-office-superman-jurassic-world-rebirth-milestones-1236465453/] * The Celebrity Press-Tour Road Map [https://www.vulture.com/article/celebrity-press-tour-promo-stop-guide.html] * Fame and Frustration On the New Media Circuit [https://www.vulture.com/article/new-media-circuit-hollywood-publicity.html] * Sydney woman who sold a cartoon cat T-shirt told to pay US$100,000 in Grumpy Cat copyright case [https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/26/sydney-woman-who-sold-a-cartoon-cat-t-shirt-told-to-pay-us100000-in-grumpy-cat-copyright-case] * How Does a Mom Get Slapped With a $250,000 Judgment Over $380 of Homemade Luke Combs Merch? Experts Cite ‘Cottage Industry’ of Mass Counterfeit Suits in Illinois [https://variety.com/2023/music/news/mass-lawsuits-luke-combs-tumblers-legal-experts-counterfeit-illinois-cottage-industry-1235841650/] * A SAD Scheme of Abusive Intellectual Property Litigation [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4381824] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Would you like Siri more if it had a face? This week on The Vergecast, we’re talking about AI assistants getting smarter… and uncomfortably personal. The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show to talk about her early tests of Alexa Plus, which is finally AI-powered and a lot more capable. Jake shares his uncomfortable first interaction with Grok’s anime girlfriend. And Waveform cohost David Imel is here to talk about Sony’s RX1R III and other premium “compact” cameras. Finally, the THUNDER ROUND is back. New, improved, and still loud. Further reading: * 24 hours with Alexa Plus: we cooked, we chatted, and it kinda lied to me [https://www.theverge.com/hands-on/705808/amazon-alexa-plus-first-look] * Alexa Plus launches to “small number” of people [https://www.theverge.com/news/639697/amazon-alexa-plus-launch-early-access-missing-features] More than a million people now have Alexa Plus [https://www.theverge.com/news/684560/amazon-alexa-plus-one-million-users-coming-summer-2025] * Elon Musk’s AI bot adds a ridiculous anime companion with ‘NSFW’ mode [https://www.theverge.com/news/706988/elon-musk-ai-bot-grok-supergrok-anime-companion-ani-rudy] * I spent 24 hours flirting with Elon Musk’s AI girlfriend [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/708482/i-spent-24-hours-flirting-with-elon-musks-ai-girlfriend] * System prompt dump of xAI / Grok’s new AI anime girlfriend [https://www.threads.com/@wongmjane/post/DMGfEqMh--o] * Elon Musk teases AI anime boyfriend based on Edward Cullen [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/708536/elon-musk-grok-xai-ai-boyfriend] * “We will, of course, have another character inspired by Mr. Darcy” [https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1945561580453712142] * xAI has open roles for building AI “waifus.” [https://www.theverge.com/news/708690/xai-has-open-roles-for-building-ai-waifus] * US government announces $200 million Grok contract a week after ‘MechaHitler’ incident [https://www.theverge.com/news/706855/grok-mechahitler-xai-defense-department-contract] * Grok will no longer call itself Hitler or base its opinions on Elon Musk’s, promises xAI [https://www.theverge.com/x-ai/707442/grok-antisemitic-hitler-elon-musk-opinion-reprogrammed] * Sony’s pocket-sized RX1R camera returns with its first update in 10 years [https://www.theverge.com/news/707589/sony-rx1r-iii-digital-compact-pocket-camera] * Original RX1R [https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/7/4074476/sony-cybershot-rx1-review]  * RX1R II [https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/14/9530499/sony-rx1r-ii-digital-camera-compact-full-frame-price] * Google exec: ‘We’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android’ [https://www.theverge.com/news/706558/google-android-chromeos-combining-sameer-samat] * Our biggest questions about ChromeOS and Android merging [https://www.theverge.com/google/707041/google-chromeos-android-os-merger-questions-phones-chromebooks-laptops-tablets] *  Ikea goes all in on Matter/Thread [https://www.theverge.com/smart-home/701697/ikea-matter-thread-new-products-new-smart-home-strategy] * Eric Migicovsky [eric@beeper.com]  * Texts.com [http://texts.com/] * Google Nest subscription [https://www.theverge.com/news/708538/google-nest-aware-plus-price-increase-subscription] * The next batch of emoji includes Bigfoot [https://www.theverge.com/news/709179/emoji-17-0-bigfoot-apple-core-orca-treasure-chest-trombone-dancer] Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

On this episode of The Vergecast, we’re going to dive deep into why accessible design is universal design. First, guest host Victoria Song will chat with Jason Valley, a visually impaired Verge reader. Jason initially reached out to Victoria after her Live AI hands-on [https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/26/24351264/live-ai-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-wearables], challenging the notion that the feature was a “solution looking for a problem to solve.” Jason shares how the tech has helped him live a more independent life, what he’s hoping to see improve, and how the blind and low-vision community has enthusiastically embraced the technology. After that, Victoria sits down with Be My Eyes CEO Mike Buckley. Be My Eyes is an app that pairs blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers to help them go about their day. Buckley gives his thoughts about how accessible tech design benefits everyone, why smart glasses and AI are a natural combo, and what challenges and opportunities in this space remain. And finally, we have features reporter Mia Sato on to answer a spicy question about smart glasses from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com). Specifically, do smart glasses belong in the bedroom? Further reading: * Live AI on Meta’s smart glasses is a solution looking for a problem [https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/26/24351264/live-ai-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-wearables] * Meta’s smart glasses can now describe what you’re seeing in more detail [https://www.theverge.com/news/667613/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-ai-detailed-responses-call-a-volunteer] * The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses actually make the future look cool [https://www.theverge.com/23922425/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-review] * Be My Eyes AI offers GPT-4-powered support for blind Microsoft customers [https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/15/23962709/microsoft-blind-users-open-ai-chatgpt-4-be-my-eyes] * The principles of wearable etiquette [http://The%20principles%20of%20wearable%20etiquette] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Summer phone season kicks off with Samsung’s latest launch. Jake, Vee, and Allison talk about Samsung’s new lineup of foldables, including the very thin new Z Fold 7 and Allison’s disdain for the Z Flip 7 FE. Vee has impressions of Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 8 lineup and its squircle-y new redesign. Then, it’s time to talk Big Tech shakeups. Apple’s COO is leaving, Zuckerberg is buying himself an AI dream team, X’s CEO is out — and its chatbot Grok is on a rampage. Finally, big things are in store for the Lightning Round… which shall henceforth be known as the THUNDER ROUND. Lots to talk about, including Lorde’s CD problems, Apple’s Liquid Glass changes, and HBO Max finally becoming HBO Max again. Further reading: * Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Everything announced at the July event⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/701144/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-everything-announced-july-event] * ⁠Galaxy Z Fold 7 hands-on: Samsung finally made the foldables we’ve been asking for⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/phones/701076/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-flip-7-fe-hands-on]  * ⁠Samsung cuts price of its foldables with the Z Flip 7 FE⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/702499/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-7-fe-price-availability] * ⁠Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series hands-on: squircle squad⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/hands-on/701175/samsung-galaxy-watch-8-series-hands-on-smartwatch-fitness-health-wearables] * ⁠Samsung seems to have leaked its own trifold phone design⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/697395/samsung-galaxy-trifold-foldable-leaks-one-ui-8] * ⁠Samsung says its trifold phone should launch ‘this year’⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/703753/samsung-trifold-phone-release-date-tm-roh] * ⁠Samsung snuck a trifold tease into (January) Unpacked⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/23/24350176/samsung-snuck-a-trifold-tease-into-unpacked] * ⁠One of Tim Cook’s possible successors is leaving Apple⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/701576/apple-coo-jeff-williams-retiring-sabih-khan] * Sabih Khan⁠ [https://www.apple.com/leadership/sabih-khan/] * Apple’s design team will report to Tim Cook⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/701705/apple-tim-cook-design-team-report] * A close look at who could succeed Tim Cook⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/8/24152366/a-close-look-at-who-could-succeed-tim-cook]  * ⁠Mark Zuckerberg announces his AI ‘superintelligence’ super-group⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/695355/mark-zuckerberg-meta-ai-superintelligence-labs] * Meta is paying $14 billion to catch up in the AI race⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/meta/685711/meta-scale-ai-ceo-alexandr-wang] * Meta’s ‘superintelligence’ hiring spree adds an AI leader from Apple⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/700196/meta-apple-openai-ai-talent-war] * Pay packages of up to $300 million over four years⁠ [https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-meta-offer-top-ai-talent-300-million/] * Meta is trying to win the AI race with money — but not everyone can be bought⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/703929/meta-openai-anthropic-superintelligence-lab-ai-poaching-money]  * ⁠X CEO Linda Yaccarino is stepping down after two years⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/702653/x-ceo-linda-yaccarino-elon-musk] * X’s CEO is out after failing at basically everything she claimed she wanted⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/twitter/703606/x-ceo-linda-yaccarino-elon-musk-out-step-down-twitter] * Threads is catching up to X on mobile⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/700521/threads-is-catching-up-to-x-on-mobile] * X has a new head of product⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/695559/x-has-a-new-head-of-product] * Elon Musk’s xAI buys Elon Musk’s X for $33 billion on paper⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/638933/elon-musk-x-xai-acquisition] * xAI updated Grok to be more ‘politically incorrect’⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/699788/xai-updated-grok-to-be-more-politically-incorrect] * Grok stops posting text after flood of antisemitism and Hitler praise⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/701884/grok-antisemitic-hitler-posts-elon-musk-x-xai] * ⁠“In other posts it referred to itself as “MechaHitler”.⁠ [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/09/grok-ai-praised-hitler-antisemitism-x-ntwnfb] * Musk makes grand promises about Grok 4 in the wake of a Nazi chatbot meltdown ⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/x-ai/703721/grok-4-x-ai-elon-musk-live-demo] * ⁠Adobe’s new camera app is making me rethink phone photography⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/tech/694014/adobe-project-indigo-camera-app-hands-on-hdr] * ⁠Ikea’s latest speaker lamp ditches Sonos for Spotify and inexpensive Bluetooth⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/702104/ikeas-latest-speaker-lamp-ditches-sonos-for-spotify-and-inexpensive-bluetooth] * Ikea ditches Zigbee for Thread going all in on Matter smart homes⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/smart-home/701697/ikea-matter-thread-new-products-new-smart-home-strategy] * ⁠Perplexity launches Comet web browser⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/703037/perplexity-ai-web-browser-comet-launch] * OpenAI’s next big launch could be an AI web browser⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/704162/opeani-ai-web-browser-chatgpt] * ⁠E Ink is turning the laptop touchpad into an e-reader for AI apps⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/697688/eink-epaper-touchpad-laptop-intel-ai-pcs] * ⁠Lorde’s new CD is so transparent that stereos can’t even read it⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/696805/lorde-virgin-album-transparent-cd-wont-play] * I tried playing Lorde’s new CD⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/698477/i-tried-playing-lordes-new-cd] * ⁠Appeals court strikes down ‘click-to-cancel’ rule⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/702398/ftc-click-to-cancel-rule-struck-down-appeals-court] * ⁠Nothing’s ‘first true flagship’ phone plays it a little safe⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/695788/nothing-phone-3-launch-news-specs-price] * ⁠Adding calendar events with a screenshot is AI at its finest⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/tech/696885/ios-26-visual-intelligence-calendar-screenshot-gemini-assistant] * ⁠The government’s Apple antitrust lawsuit is still on⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/695350/apple-loses-dismissal-of-doj-antitrust-lawsuit] * ⁠Apple just added more frost to its Liquid Glass design⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/700066/apple-liquid-glass-frosted-ios-26-developer-beta] * ⁠Apple’s second-generation Vision Pro might launch this year⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/703364/apple-vision-pro-second-gen-release-rumor] * ⁠Nvidia briefly became the first $4 trillion company on Wednesday⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/703482/nvidia-briefly-became-the-first-4-trillion-company-today] * ⁠The makers of Cameo just launched... a birthday-tracking app?⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/704039/the-makers-of-cameo-just-launched-a-birthday-tracking-app] * ⁠Nintendo is ending its cost-saving Switch game vouchers⁠ [https://www.theverge.com/news/703993/nintendo-switch-game-voucher-discontinued] * ⁠HBO Max is officially HBO Max again [https://www.theverge.com/news/702261/hbo-max-rebrand-official-warner-bros] Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]