Samsung cancels the Trifold and red flags

David and Nilay start the show by exploring the increasing disconnect between the people who make AI products, and the people who keep saying they don't want them. (Or, at least, don't want to pay for them.) The AI industry is starting to retrench to a business-first approach, because there's simply no killer app for it yet. Speaking of no killer apps! Allison Johnson then joins the show to talk about the shockingly short life of the Samsung TriFold, and her bizarre journey to try and review the now-dead foldable. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, the fate of the metaverse, and some important internet debunking.

Further reading:

• OpenAI cuts back on “side quests.” 

• OpenAI’s adult mode will reportedly be smutty, not pornographic 

• NYMag: Should You Be Able to Have Sex With ChatGPT?

• I think VCs are starting to panic about the lack of *broad* consumer | TikTok

• For the second time this week we have VCs vocalizing their frustration | TikTok

• Poll: Majority of voters say risks of AI outweigh the benefits

• How Americans View AI and Its Impact on Human Abilities, Society | Pew Research Center

• Samsung discontinues its Galaxy Z TriFold after just three months 

• Oppo’s nearly creaseless foldable isn’t launching in Europe after all 

• From last year: Just look at Huawei’s trifold phone

• This is not a fly uploaded to a computer

• ChatGPT did not cure a dog’s cancer

• Meta is actually keeping its VR metaverse running, for now

• Nvidia just announced DLSS 5 and Digital Foundry already has a video. 

• Jensen Huang, on the critical reaction to DLSS 5: “Well, first of all, they’re completely wrong.”

• DLSS 5 looks like a real-time generative AI filter for video games 

• Nvidia has lost the plot with gamers 

We're hiring a new podcast producer. Come work with us!

Thank you for subscribing to The Verge. We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠⁠⁠vergecast@theverge.com⁠⁠⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11.

00:00 Intro

02:02 OpenAI Memo Side Quests

08:38 Public Backlash Polls

16:00 VCs Blame The Media

23:54 Doom Messaging Blowback

28:37 Social Permission And B2B Pivot

33:07 What Would A Killer App Be

36:48 Productivity Reality Check

40:41 Trifold Review Unit Saga

43:20 Canceled Trifold Fallout

51:03 Do Foldables Have a Market

01:01:25 Android Big Screen Woes

01:04:27 Lightning Round 

01:07:51 Mar-a-Lago Alpha Clip

01:09:27 Trump Rages at Media

01:10:15 Carr Threatens Licenses

01:12:00 Chilling Effect Explained

01:14:29 Ron Johnson Pushback

01:16:39 Audience of One Politics

01:20:46 DLSS 5 Controversy

01:27:29 AI Hype Debunking

01:32:55 Meta Metaverse Whiplash

01:36:08 Supernatural and Antitrust

01:39:34 Wrap Up and Plugs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices