The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition

The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, Richard Lawler, and James Vincent discuss the popularity of ChatGPT.Also: the FTC sues Microsoft to block its Activision Blizzard purchase, Apple is adding end-to-end encryption to iCloud backups, and some gadget news.Further reading: ChatGPT proves AI is finally mainstream — and things are only going to get weirder The FTC is suing Microsoft to block its Activision Blizzard purchase Microsoft reaches 10-year deal with Nintendo for Call of Duty EU sets December 28th, 2024, deadline for all new phones to use USB-C for wired charging The race to build a better Twitter Twitter Blue will reportedly cost more from iPhones to offset ‘hidden 30 percent tax’  Apple is adding end-to-end encryption to iCloud backups   Apple claims a new iMessage can alert you if state-sponsored spies are eavesdropping Tim Cook and Joe Biden came to Arizona to announce plans for American-made chips  Huawei’s latest smartwatch has hidden earbuds inside The $949 price for Dyson’s air-purifying headphones is more absurd than the device itself  Coros Apex 2 and Apex 2 Pro review: slightly short of great Amazon Echo Auto (2nd gen) review: smaller but not smarter How CoinDesk’s FTX scoop left a hole in its corporate overlord Sonos and Ikea made a floor lamp speaker that could be perfect for surround sound Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the flagship podcast of mounting TVs way too high in the hospital room:The Verge's David Pierce chats with Russell Brandom about the state of US broadband, and what we learned from 22,000 people’s internet bills.David also talks with Verge managing editor Alex Cranz about the Amazon Kindle's 15th anniversary, why the Kindle has been so successful, and maybe also why it hasn’t done more. Keep listening for Alex's review of the Kindle Scribe.Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Producer Hadley Robinson reports on the often uncertain world digital creators find themselves in trying to make a living on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Should platforms pay creators directly? Are creator funds even good? Creators and experts tell us what they have found behind the curtain and what it's like to chase the dream of making a living as a digital creator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and Alex Heath discuss this week in Elon Musk, everything that went wrong with FTX, and the latest gadget news.Further reading: Why some tech CEOs are rooting for Elon Musk  A Twitter executive got a court injunction to prevent Elon Musk from firing her Another major ad agency recommends pausing Twitter ad campaigns  Elon Musk is delaying Twitter’s paid verification to avoid Apple’s 30 percent cut Elon Musk says Apple has ‘threatened to withhold Twitter’ from the App Store Elon Musk says Tim Cook told him Apple ‘never considered’ removing Twitter  Elon Musk is dragging Apple into the culture wars  Elon Musk claims Neuralink is about ‘six months’ away from first human trial   Here’s everything that went wrong with FTX Sam Bankman-Fried Interview: Read the Transcript - The New York Times  Kensington made a new wireless version of its SlimBlade trackball mouse  The Genki Covert Dock Mini lets me put an entire gaming system in my purse  Now the Apple Watch Ultra can actually be your diving computer  Anker’s Eufy lied to us about the security of its security cameras   Canoo repurposed its bubbly electric pickup truck for the US Army Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we spend more time in digital spaces, our avatars are becoming part of our personality. And digital creators and influencers are becoming part of our culture. Producer Gina Pollack join's The Verge's David Pierce with stories about why advertisers love digital creators, why a dancing hot dog will never leave your brain, and what the creator industry is learning from mascots. Next time you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed, keep your eyes peeled — not everyone’s as human as they look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the flagship podcast of connected meat thermometers:It’s Thanksgiving week, so we’re going to do something a little different. We’re going to make Thanksgiving dinner! Jen Pattison Tuohy, The Verge’s smart home reviewer and reporter, is also an excellent cook. So she’s at home in South Carolina, and she’s going to make us a meal and tell us all about the state and future of the smart home and kitchen gadgets. This episode, fair warning, will make you very hungry. I’m sorry in advance.Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Piece, Alex Cranz, and Adi Robertson discuss the Meta Quest Pro review.Later, the crew discuss Ticketmaster crashing after Taylor Swift fans try to buy concert tickets. Also: Elon Musk's Twitter saga continues and some weekly gadget news.Further reading: Meta Quest Pro review: get me out of here Taylor Swift crashed Ticketmaster following 'historically unprecedented demand' for tickets  Elon Musk ignored Twitter’s internal warnings about paid verification Elon Musk says he fired engineer who corrected him on Twitter Elon Musk is firing Twitter employees even when they criticize him in private Elon Musk says he doesn’t want to be CEO of Twitter, or any company Elon Musk demands Twitter employees commit to ‘extremely hardcore’ culture or leave Amazon’s Alexa Voice Remote Pro is the best streaming clicker of them all Elgato’s new Stream Deck Plus joins the knob mob Sonos plans to enter four new product categories — and the first is coming next year Apple and Major League Soccer will launch MLS Season Pass on February 1st  Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 leans into AI  Razer is upgrading the 2022 Blade 14’s two USB-C ports to USB 4 Canon’s new ‘Pro’ webcam software subscription charges $50 annually The 20-year boondoggle   The unbearable lightness of BuzzFeed The scary truth about AI copyright is nobody knows what will happen next Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the flagship podcast of the difference between CMYK and RGB colors: 02:19 - David talks about the future of Photoshop with Adobe's Chief Product Officer Scott Belsky. 13:37 - Verge senior reporter James Vincent joins the show to discuss generative AI art and all its possibilities and complications. 43:05 - The Verge's Kristen Radtke and Jess Weatherbed chat with David about Pantone's new subscription service and what it means for artists and designers. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you.We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Alex Heath discuss week two of Elon Musk as CEO of Twitter and Meta announcing job cuts.Later in the show: What's next for Binance and FTX, a stretchable screen by LG Display, and the Surface Pro 9 review.Further reading: Elon Musk tells Twitter staff to prepare for ‘difficult times ahead’ and ends remote work Read Elon Musk’s first email to Twitter employees Elon Musk offloads another $3.9 billion in Tesla shares Elon is putting Twitter at risk for billions in fines, says internal letter Elon Musk’s Twitter Blue with verification is now live Elon Musk's response to fake verified Elon Twitter accounts: a new permanent ban policy for impersonation  Everyone knows you paid to be verified on Twitter  Mario flipped off Twitter for nearly two hours with the blessing of Musk's 'verification'   Twitter rolls back gray ‘official’ checks that popped up on high-profile accounts Twitter’s new double-check verification disappears, Elon Musk says he ‘killed it’ Meta announces huge job cuts affecting 11,000 employees Binance won't bail out FTX, cites reports of 'mishandled customer funds' ‘I fucked up,’ says FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in public apology Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel) review: this is the one to buy LG Display's 'stretchable' prototype display could attach to skin, clothing, and furniture  HP Pavilion Plus 14 review: a powerful, confusing OLED machine The Pixel Watch calorie bug is a reminder of why 'accuracy' isn't everything Razer made a customizable PS5 controller that — you guessed it — is very expensive  Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you.We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on02:10 - The Verge's David Pierce tries out Neeva's Bias Buster, an attempt to get people out of their echo chambers and show them new information in its search engine.20:25 - Senior reporter Adi Robertson talks about her story How America turned against the First Amendment42:27 - Policy reporter Makena Kelly explains the CHIPS and Science Act, and how it could reshape the tech industry in America.Further reading: Biden signs $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act Micron launches $15 billion Idaho project amid federal push for US tech manufacturing President Joe Biden speaks after groundbreaking for Intel’s $20 billion semiconductor plant Micron’s investing up to $100 billion to bring the country’s ‘largest semiconductor’ facility to New York Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you.We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices