Cookie banners — those pop-ups that appear on practically every webpage demanding you accept their tracking systems — are one of the most consistent low-grade annoyances of life online. But Kate Klonick, a professor and writer, argues they're actually much worse than that, and the only plausible solution is to get rid of them entirely. After that, The Verge's Allison Johnson tells us about her AI-enhanced Google Maps experience, and why the new Ask Maps feature has the potential to be both incredibly cool and incredibly creepy. Then, she helps David answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about whether E Ink phones might solve all our problems.

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Vergecast movie night! Join David and Nilay as we watch Sneakers at the IFC Center in New York City, April 27 @ 7pm. Get tickets here: https://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-vergecast-presents-sneakers/

The case for banning cookie banners

The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition

Ask Maps: Gemini inside Google Maps

The AI-powered Podcast Player