The Vergecast

There's a lot of news this week, so today's episode turned into a whole bunch of lightning rounds. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes talk through all the vibes and news at WWDC, and why F1 seemed to outshine everything else. We also talk about the Switch 2 launch, and the news this week that Microsoft and Asus are building Xbox handhelds in both clever and confusing ways. After that, we run through for a bunch of AI news, including the ongoing decline of Google traffic to the web, the new Dia browser, and Sam Altman's ideas about how much water ChatGPT uses. Finally, it's time for another edition of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, followed by the news of Warner Bros. Discovery breaking up, some very fast flash drives, and a new Meta messaging app. Further reading: * Craig Federighi confirms Apple’s first attempt at an AI Siri wasn’t good enough [https://www.theverge.com/news/685106/apple-ai-siri-delay-craig-federighi-greg-joswiak-wwdc-2025] * Ars: Apple’s Craig Federighi on the long road to the iPad’s Mac-like multitasking [https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/apples-craig-federighi-on-the-long-road-to-the-ipads-mac-like-multitasking/] * Nintendo’s Switch 2 is the fastest-selling game console of all time  [https://www.theverge.com/news/685162/nintendo-switch-2-sales-figures-record] * Nintendo says your bad Switch 2 battery life might be a bug [https://www.theverge.com/news/685505/nintendo-says-your-bad-switch-2-battery-life-might-be-a-bug] * Microsoft and Asus announce two Xbox Ally handhelds with new Xbox full-screen experience [https://www.theverge.com/news/682009/microsoft-asus-rog-xbox-ally-devices-new-windows-xbox-experience] * This is how Microsoft is combining Windows and Xbox for handheld PCs  [https://www.theverge.com/news/682011/microsoft-windows-xbox-pc-combination-features-rog-xbox-ally-devices] * Xbox’s new handheld is a surprisingly comfortable way to play Gears of War  [https://www.theverge.com/games/684247/xbox-ally-x-hands-on-gears-of-war-reloaded] * Microsoft just teased its next-gen Xbox console, and nobody noticed [https://www.theverge.com/notepad-microsoft-newsletter/686101/microsoft-xbox-next-gen-console-handheld-hints-notepad] * The Nothing Phone 3 is coming to the US, and not in beta. [https://www.theverge.com/news/686183/the-nothing-phone-3-is-coming-to-the-us-and-not-in-beta] * HP reveals $24,999 hardware created just for Google Beam  [https://www.theverge.com/news/684859/hp-dimension-google-beam-3d-video-communication] * Online publishers are facing a chatbot calamity.  [https://www.theverge.com/news/684192/online-publishers-are-facing-a-chatbot-calamity] * Disney and Universal sue Midjourney for making AI ripoffs of their biggest characters  [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/685433/disney-universal-sue-midjourney-copyright-infringement] * Taboola’s clickbaity chumbox is evolving into an AI chatbot  [https://www.theverge.com/news/685538/taboola-clickbait-chumbox-ai-chatbot] * Alexa Plus now has a million users and could be coming to you this summer  [https://www.theverge.com/news/684560/amazon-alexa-plus-one-million-users-coming-summer-2025] * Amazon is about to be flooded with AI-generated video ads [https://www.theverge.com/news/685160/amazon-ads-ai-video-generator-us-launch-availability] Dia, the AI browser from the makers of Arc, is now available in beta  [https://www.theverge.com/web/685232/dia-browser-ai-arc] Sam Altman claims an average ChatGPT query uses ‘roughly one fifteenth of a teaspoon’ of water [https://www.theverge.com/news/685045/sam-altman-average-chatgpt-energy-water] FCC’s last Democratic commissioner doesn’t know why Trump hasn’t fired her yet [https://www.theverge.com/policy/685599/fcc-commissioner-democrat-anna-gomez-trump-carr-first-amendment-tour] https://x.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1931033942980718886 * Republicans are barreling toward remaking the internet  [https://www.theverge.com/policy/681609/ftc-attention-economy-kids-online-safety-workshop] * Trump-fired FTC commissioner resigns.  [https://www.theverge.com/news/683952/trump-fired-ftc-commissioner-resigns] Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into two companies [https://www.theverge.com/news/682633/warner-bros-discovery-splitting-company] 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]

Apple spent 90 minutes talking about the future of its software, and we're pretty sure only said the word "Siri" once. Nilay and David are joined by The Verge's Victoria Song and Allison Johnson, both of whom were with Nilay at the keynote, to talk about all the news of the day. They talk about the Liquid Glass design language, and why Apple decided to redesign all its software. They talk about Spotlight on the Mac, the new multitasking features on the iPad, the typing indicators on the iPhone, Workout Buddy on the Watch, personas on the Vision Pro, and everything else that Apple announced — or, in a few cases, pointedly didn't announce — on stage. We're just starting to try out some of this software, and it's all likely to change a lot before it hits your devices this fall. And we'll have lots of thoughts along the way. Further reading: * Apple renames its operating systems  [https://www.theverge.com/news/679221/apple-ios-macos-watchos-ipados-26-name] * Apple’s new design language is Liquid Glass  [https://www.theverge.com/news/682636/apple-liquid-glass-design-theme-wwdc-2025] * Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign doesn’t look like much  [https://www.theverge.com/apple/682833/apples-liquid-glass-redesign-doesnt-look-like-much] * Apple’s ChatGPT integration makes it easier to search for more context on images and shop for things they see [https://www.theverge.com/apple/683412/apples-chatgpt-integration-makes-it-easier-to-search-for-more-context-on-images-and-shop-for-things-they-see']. * Apple Intelligence takes on language barriers in messages and phone calls.  [https://www.theverge.com/apple/683171/apple-intelligence-takes-on-language-barriers-in-messages-and-phone-calls] * Apple announces macOS Tahoe 26 with new design and revamped search features  [https://www.theverge.com/news/678268/macos-version-wwdc-2025-announcement] * Apple’s Spotlight upgrades in macOS Tahoe have power users in mind  [https://www.theverge.com/apple/682950/apple-spotlight-mac-shortcuts] * Apple launches iPadOS 26 with a new look and way better multitasking  [https://www.theverge.com/apple/679420/apple-ipados-wwdc-2025] * Apple announces watchOS 26 with a wrist flick gesture and AI ‘Workout Buddy’  [https://www.theverge.com/news/679225/apple-watchos-26-wwdc-features] * Apple’s visionOS 26 adds PSVR2 controller support and spatial widgets  [https://www.theverge.com/news/678882/apple-vision-pro-visionos-26-announced] * Apple’s AirPods update adds camera controls and more  [https://www.theverge.com/news/682852/apple-airpods-update-wwdc-2025] * Apple’s new Games app lets you challenge your friends [https://www.theverge.com/news/678319/apple-games-app-wwdc-2025] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Developer conference season is almost over, but we've got one show left to see: Apple's WWDC begins on Monday. Nilay, David, and Joanna Stern spend time going through both what they expect to see at the show, and why this year's WWDC might feel a bit different than in years past. Apple is in a tricky place with regulators, developers, and users alike, and has some genuine explaining to do. After that, they talk about the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, and David's surprisingly easy adventure to acquire one. We also have a bit of smart glasses and AI gadgets news to discuss, so we do that too. Then it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, and an update on a couple of the interesting new fediverse projects launching this week. Further reading: * Verge subscriptions are on sale 40 percent off [https://www.theverge.com/subscribe%E2%81%A0] * American Society of Magazine Editors Announces National Magazine Awards 2025 Winners [https://asme.memberclicks.net/american-society-of-magazine-editors-announces-national-magazine-awards-2025-winners] * * Apple ordered to keep web links in the App Store  [https://www.theverge.com/news/679946/apple-rejected-court-attempt-to-stop-app-store-web-links] * * Payment companies team up to help developers ditch App Store billing [https://www.theverge.com/news/679149/paddle-revenuecat-integration-apple-app-store] * Apple could be adding camera controls and sleep detection to your AirPods [https://www.theverge.com/news/679930/apple-airpods-camera-controls-sleep-detection-wwdc-rumor] * Switch 2 launch: where to find restocks online and in-store  [https://www.theverge.com/tech/679393/nintendo-switch-2-launch-release-buy-restock] * Look inside the Nintendo Switch 2 with the console’s first teardown  [https://www.theverge.com/news/679327/nintendo-switch-2-handheld-teardown] * Mario Kart World’s designers had to rethink everything to make it open world  [https://www.theverge.com/interview/678097/mario-kart-world-nintendo-switch-2-interview-kosuke-yabuki] * Nintendo is updating even more games for the Switch 2 [https://www.theverge.com/news/679468/nintendo-switch-2-game-updates-more-titles]Here’s what’s inside Meta’s experimental new smart glasses  [https://www.theverge.com/news/679707/meta-aria-gen-2-upgrades-specs-ai] * Meta’s reportedly shopping for exclusive content on its upcoming VR headset  [https://www.theverge.com/news/679891/meta-ar-vr-headset-puffin-loma-disney-a24-exclusive-streaming] * Meta reportedly sidelined ‘Quest 4’ designs for a goggles-like mixed-reality headset  [https://www.theverge.com/news/678577/meta-lightweight-mixed-reality-headset-goggles-puffin-quest] * FCC investigation looms over EchoStar’s missed interest payments and a new satellite  [https://www.theverge.com/news/679023/dish-network-echostar-interest-payments-tv-satellite-fcc-investigation-spacex] * From Ars Technica: FCC Republican resigns, leaving agency with just two commissioners [https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/06/two-fcc-commissioners-resign-trumps-chair-still-lacks-republican-majority/] * Jony Ive’s OpenAI device gets the Laurene Powell Jobs nod of approval  [https://www.theverge.com/news/677921/jony-ive-openai-laurene-powell-jobs-interview] * ChatGPT’s goal is to be a ‘super assistant’ for every part of your life  [https://www.theverge.com/command-line-newsletter/677705/openai-chatgpt-super-assistant] * https://www.theverge.com/news/678928/bounce-bluesky-mastodon-bridgy-fed-tool-followers Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Help us plan for the future of The Vergecast by filling out a brief survey: voxmedia.com/survey [http://voxmedia.com/survey]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

We've talked many times on The Vergecast about the dream of the perfect charger. We call it The God Cable, and imagine it would charge everything, at full optimized speed, no matter what you plug in. Well, one company tried to make it – sort of. TwelveSouth founder Andrew Green joins the show to talk about how his company developed its newest product, the PowerCord, and why actually the God Cable might be both impossible and a bad idea. After that, The Verge's Tina Nguyen joins the show to talk about her experience at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas, the rise of $TRUMP, and how crypto and the government became so intertwined. Finally, we answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline about AI agents, and the tasks we should (and shouldn't) offload to our chatbots. Further reading: * The TwelveSouth PowerCord [https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/powercord] * The Vergecast USB-C Holiday Spec-tacular [https://www.theverge.com/24012468/vergecast-podcast-holiday-special-usb-c] * Everything you need to know about switching to USB-C [https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/16/23872237/apple-iphone-15-usb-c-switch-guide] * How a crypto bro shorted $TRUMP coin — and scored a dinner with the President [https://www.theverge.com/cryptocurrency/674327/trump-coin-short-sell-hedge-contest-dinner-winner] * Presidential seals, $100,000 watches, and a Marriott afterparty [https://www.theverge.com/politics/673870/trump-meme-coin-dinner-justin-sun-watch-presidential-seal] * Trump’s media company says it’s buying $2.5 billion in Bitcoin [https://www.theverge.com/news/674684/trump-media-bitcoin-treasury-deal] * The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act will soon ramp up in Congress. [https://www.theverge.com/politics/674987/the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-act-will-soon-ramp-up-in-congress] * Crypto funds seized by the government may go into a ‘digital Fort Knox’ [https://www.theverge.com/news/626025/crypto-seized-funds-government-reserve-trump] * Google’s future is Google googling [https://www.theverge.com/google/671200/google-googling-ai-mode-project-mariner-i-o-2025] * OpenAI’s new Operator AI agent can do things on the web for you [https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/23/24350395/openai-chatgpt-operator-agent-control-computer] Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Fill out a brief survey and tell us what you want from The Vergecast: voxmedia.com/survey [http://voxmedia.com/survey]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

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? [https://bsky.app/profile/cozmicvoid.bsky.social/post/3lpzujzsc6k22] * So so many softball and baseball games, Luis tips us to the Yankees [https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ-YOa4O187/?img_index=2] * Incredible at a dentist office from Oktawian [https://bsky.app/profile/oktawian.bsky.social/post/3lprsaweym22a] * * Apple is reportedly going to rename all of its operating systems  [https://www.theverge.com/news/675945/apple-operating-systems-new-name-year-ios-macos] * * Apple is ready to replace Game Center with a more Xbox-like gaming app  [https://www.theverge.com/news/675241/apple-game-center-app-replace-rac7-sneaky-sasquatch-acquisition] * Get ready for Apple’s glassy operating systems overhaul. [https://www.theverge.com/apple-rumors/674192/get-ready-for-apples-glassy-operating-systems-overhaul] * Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry [https://www.theverge.com/news/674366/nick-clegg-uk-ai-artists-policy-letter] * The New York Times’ first generative AI deal is with Amazon [https://www.theverge.com/news/676291/new-york-times-ai-deal-amazon] * The Browser Company explains why it stopped developing Arc [https://www.theverge.com/news/674603/arc-browser-development-stopped-dia-browser-company] * The plan for nationwide fiber internet might be upended for Starlink [https://www.theverge.com/news/675502/bead-program-fiber-internet-paused] * FCC Commissioner Labels Trump Push to Chill Speech an ‘Administration-Wide Effort’ [https://www.thewrap.com/fcc-commissioner-trump-free-speech-attacks/] * Carr's attack on Ergen looks gross [https://www.lightreading.com/regulatory-politics/carr-s-attack-on-ergen-looks-gross] * Shut Down the Federal Communications Commission [https://www.wsj.com/opinion/shut-down-the-federal-communications-commission-deregulation-authority-agency-b136d328] * With the Switch, technology finally caught up to Nintendo  [https://www.theverge.com/games/671323/nintendo-switch-2-wii-u-technology-games] * Nintendo’s bold new era is full of safe bets  [https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/671949/nintendo-switch-2-era-risks] * The Nintendo Switch was an indie game haven, until it was overrun with slop  [https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/671658/nintendo-switch-indie-games-eshop-legacy] * The Nintendo Switch 2 sure seems to work just fine with a USB mouse  [https://www.theverge.com/news/674176/nintendo-switch-2-usb-mouse-support] * There’s a Switch 2 unboxing video already. [https://www.theverge.com/games/675181/theres-a-switch-2-unboxing-video-already] 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]