Who's going to win the Super Bowl? What about the latest season of Survivor? Or the race to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve? Who will be Portugal's next president? How many times will Elon Musk tweet in the next week? On Polymarket, and other prediction markets, you can bet on all these things and more. Are we entering a world in which everything is gambling and gambling is everything? Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal joins the show to explain the rise of prediction markets, what's betting and what's investing, and more. Then, The Verge's Hayden Field teaches us about Model Context Protocol, a wonky bit of AI infrastructure that might be key to making AI agents work. MCP is barely a year old, and practically all of tech is ready to embrace it. Finally, Hayden helps David answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email <a href="mailto:vergecast@theverge.com">vergecast@theverge.com</a>!) about why every AI company seems to want you to go shopping.
Further reading:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/645822/robinhood-ceo-vlad-tenev">Are prediction markets gambling? Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is betting not</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/column/815208/election-night-at-kalshi-hq">Election night at Kalshi HQ</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-10-10/my-biggest-question-about-prediction-markets">Joe Weisenthal at </a><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AQ0VXvE12t0/joe-weisenthal">Bloomberg</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>From Bloomberg: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-10-10/my-biggest-question-about-prediction-markets">My Biggest Question About Prediction Markets</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/25/24305774/anthropic-model-context-protocol-data-sources">Anthropic launches tool to connect AI systems directly to datasets</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/841156/ai-companies-aaif-anthropic-mcp-model-context-protocol">AI companies want a new internet — and they think they’ve found the key</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/subscribe">Subscribe to The Verge</a> for unlimited access to <a href="http://theverge.com/">theverge.com</a>, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge-podcast-ad-free-set-up-how-to">ad-free podcast feed</a>.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to <a href="mailto:vergecast@theverge.com">vergecast@theverge.com</a> or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

<description>Who's going to win the Super Bowl? What about the latest season of Survivor? Or the race to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve? Who will be Portugal's next president? How many times will Elon Musk tweet in the next week? On Polymarket, and other prediction markets, you can bet on all these things and more. Are we entering a world in which everything is gambling and gambling is everything? Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal joins the show to explain the rise of prediction markets, what's betting and what's investing, and more. Then, The Verge's Hayden Field teaches us about Model Context Protocol, a wonky bit of AI infrastructure that might be key to making AI agents work. MCP is barely a year old, and practically all of tech is ready to embrace it. Finally, Hayden helps David answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about why every AI company seems to want you to go shopping.

Further reading:


 Are prediction markets gambling? Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is betting not



 Election night at Kalshi HQ



 
Joe Weisenthal at Bloomberg




 From Bloomberg: My Biggest Question About Prediction Markets




 Anthropic launches tool to connect AI systems directly to datasets



 AI companies want a new internet — and they think they’ve found the key


Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices</description>

Who's going to win the Super Bowl? What about the latest season of Survivor? Or the race to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve? Who will be Portugal's next president? How many times will Elon Musk tweet in the next week? On Polymarket, and other prediction markets, you can bet on all these things and more. Are we entering a world in which everything is gambling and gambling is everything? Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal joins the show to explain the rise of prediction markets, what's betting and what's investing, and more. Then, The Verge's Hayden Field teaches us about Model Context Protocol, a wonky bit of AI infrastructure that might be key to making AI agents work. MCP is barely a year old, and practically all of tech is ready to embrace it. Finally, Hayden helps David answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about why every AI company seems to want you to go shopping.

Further reading:


  Are prediction markets gambling? Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is betting not



  Election night at Kalshi HQ



  
Joe Weisenthal at Bloomberg




  From Bloomberg: My Biggest Question About Prediction Markets




  Anthropic launches tool to connect AI systems directly to datasets



  AI companies want a new internet — and they think they’ve found the key


Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everything is gambling now

A year ago, David and Nilay sat down with Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern to make a bunch of confident predictions about 2025. We got them... you know what, never mind. Let's look ahead to 2026! This year, we gather again to make increasingly bold bets about the year to come, including the future of a few of the world's biggest companies and whether we're finally going to get a foldable iPhone. Last year's predictions may not have been our best, but we're feeling good about these.
 
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/subscribe">Subscribe to The Verge</a> for unlimited access to <a href="http://theverge.com/">theverge.com</a>, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge-podcast-ad-free-set-up-how-to">ad-free podcast feed</a>.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to <a href="mailto:vergecast@theverge.com">vergecast@theverge.com</a> or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

<description>A year ago, David and Nilay sat down with Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern to make a bunch of confident predictions about 2025. We got them... you know what, never mind. Let's look ahead to 2026! This year, we gather again to make increasingly bold bets about the year to come, including the future of a few of the world's biggest companies and whether we're finally going to get a foldable iPhone. Last year's predictions may not have been our best, but we're feeling good about these.



Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices</description>

Let's look ahead to 2026

A year ago, David and Nilay sat down with Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern to make a bunch of confident predictions about 2025. We got them... you know what, never mind. Let's look ahead to 2026! This year, we gather again to make increasingly bold bets about the year to come, including the future of a few of the world's biggest companies and whether we're finally going to get a foldable iPhone. Last year's predictions may not have been our best, but we're feeling good about these.



Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 The end of OpenAI, and other 2026 predictions

Technically, the Netflix / Warner Bros. news is almost a week old, but what a week it has been! And so, after some follow-up on smart shades and CES, Nilay and David talk through all that’s at stake in the fight between Paramount and Netflix — and whether it’s even possible for someone to win this deal. After that, Charlie Harding, co-host of Switched on Pop and honorary Vergecast intern, explains how AI is taking over the country music scene in Nashville. He also makes us a song, and it’s a jam. Lastly, the hosts talk about font news (with a special guest), Brendan Carr, smart rings, garage wars, and more.
 
Further reading:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/839889/the-verge-subscription-turns-one">The Verge subscription turns one </a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/838781/netflix-warner-bros-discover-bids-buyout">Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $83 billion </a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839813/paramount-skydance-warner-bros-discovery-hostile-takeover-bid">Paramount launches a hostile $108 billion bid to snatch Warner from Netflix </a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839910/david-ellison-pitches-paramounts-hostile-bid-for-wbd-as-pro-consumer">David Ellison pitches Paramount’s $108 billion hostile bid for WBD as “pro consumer.” </a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/paramount-netflix-warner-bros-battle-ellisons-a86fe15c">Behind Paramount’s Relentless Campaign to Woo Warner Discovery and President Trump</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.thewrap.com/new-paramount-film-tv-streaming-plans/#:~:text=On%20AI,of%20financial%20discipline%20to%20bear">New Paramount Speaks: Theatrical Films, Streaming Investment and Tech Upgrades Are Top Priorities</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839749/netflix-ceo-visit-white-house-warner-bros">Netflix CEO made a visit to the White House before buying Warner Bros. </a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839767/trump-isnt-sold-on-the-netflix-warner-bros-deal">Trump isn’t sold on the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839380/netflixs-leadership-thinks-the-warner-bros-deal-wont-be-like-other-big-media-mergers">Netflix’s leadership thinks the Warner Bros. deal won’t be like other big media mergers.</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/839480/netflix-warner-bros-acquisition-hbo-theatrical-releases-layoffs">Welcome to the big leagues, Netflix </a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/streaming/841581/warner-bros-netflix-paramount-skydance-ellison-hostile-bid">There are no good outcomes for the Warner Bros. sale</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/842348/disney-openai-sora-chatgpt-images">OpenAI’s billion-dollar Disney deal puts Mickey Mouse and Marvel in Sora</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/829964/country-music-ai">Get ready for an AI country music explosion</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://x.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1996945925822939407">Brendan Carr is a Dummy</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/839294/chamberlain-myq-garage-door-opener-update-blocks-aftermarket-controllers">Chamberlain’s new technology blocks aftermarket controllers from working with its garage door openers</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/840352/pebble-index-smart-ring-launch-price">The Pebble Index 01 is a smart ring with a built-in microphone</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/841664/calibri-is-too-woke-for-the-state-department">Calibri is too woke for the State Department | The Verge</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://daringfireball.net/misc/2025/12/state-department-return-to-tradition.text">Gruber got a copy of the thing</a></li>
</ul>
 
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/subscribe">Subscribe to The Verge</a> for unlimited access to <a href="http://theverge.com/">theverge.com</a>, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge-podcast-ad-free-set-up-how-to">ad-free podcast feed</a>.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to <a href="mailto:vergecast@theverge.com">vergecast@theverge.com</a> or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

<description>Technically, the Netflix / Warner Bros. news is almost a week old, but what a week it has been! And so, after some follow-up on smart shades and CES, Nilay and David talk through all that’s at stake in the fight between Paramount and Netflix — and whether it’s even possible for someone to win this deal. After that, Charlie Harding, co-host of Switched on Pop and honorary Vergecast intern, explains how AI is taking over the country music scene in Nashville. He also makes us a song, and it’s a jam. Lastly, the hosts talk about font news (with a special guest), Brendan Carr, smart rings, garage wars, and more.



Further reading:


 The Verge subscription turns one 



 Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $83 billion 



 Paramount launches a hostile $108 billion bid to snatch Warner from Netflix 



 David Ellison pitches Paramount’s $108 billion hostile bid for WBD as “pro consumer.” 



 Behind Paramount’s Relentless Campaign to Woo Warner Discovery and President Trump



 New Paramount Speaks: Theatrical Films, Streaming Investment and Tech Upgrades Are Top Priorities



 Netflix CEO made a visit to the White House before buying Warner Bros. 



 Trump isn’t sold on the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal



 Netflix’s leadership thinks the Warner Bros. deal won’t be like other big media mergers.



 Welcome to the big leagues, Netflix 



 There are no good outcomes for the Warner Bros. sale



 OpenAI’s billion-dollar Disney deal puts Mickey Mouse and Marvel in Sora



 Get ready for an AI country music explosion



 Brendan Carr is a Dummy



 Chamberlain’s new technology blocks aftermarket controllers from working with its garage door openers



 The Pebble Index 01 is a smart ring with a built-in microphone



 Calibri is too woke for the State Department | The Verge



 Gruber got a copy of the thing




Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices</description>

Charlie Harding, co-host of Switched on Pop, explains how AI is taking over country music 

Technically, the Netflix / Warner Bros. news is almost a week old, but what a week it has been! And so, after some follow-up on smart shades and CES, Nilay and David talk through all that’s at stake in the fight between Paramount and Netflix — and whether it’s even possible for someone to win this deal. After that, Charlie Harding, co-host of Switched on Pop and honorary Vergecast intern, explains how AI is taking over the country music scene in Nashville. He also makes us a song, and it’s a jam. Lastly, the hosts talk about font news (with a special guest), Brendan Carr, smart rings, garage wars, and more.



Further reading:


  The Verge subscription turns one 



  Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $83 billion 



  Paramount launches a hostile $108 billion bid to snatch Warner from Netflix 



  David Ellison pitches Paramount’s $108 billion hostile bid for WBD as “pro consumer.” 



  Behind Paramount’s Relentless Campaign to Woo Warner Discovery and President Trump



  New Paramount Speaks: Theatrical Films, Streaming Investment and Tech Upgrades Are Top Priorities



  Netflix CEO made a visit to the White House before buying Warner Bros. 



  Trump isn’t sold on the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal



  Netflix’s leadership thinks the Warner Bros. deal won’t be like other big media mergers.



  Welcome to the big leagues, Netflix 



  There are no good outcomes for the Warner Bros. sale



  OpenAI’s billion-dollar Disney deal puts Mickey Mouse and Marvel in Sora



  Get ready for an AI country music explosion



  Brendan Carr is a Dummy



  Chamberlain’s new technology blocks aftermarket controllers from working with its garage door openers



  The Pebble Index 01 is a smart ring with a built-in microphone



  Calibri is too woke for the State Department | The Verge



  Gruber got a copy of the thing




Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 How to vibe-write a country hit

Well, friends, it's been a year. And before we turn the page to 2026 and all the stories of 2025 begin to blur together, we decided to take stock of things. Nilay and David are joined by Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern to debate the best products of the year, the biggest policy moves, the people who broke bad, the good AI things, the bad AI things, and much more. It's been a vibe-everything kind of year, and there's a lot to discuss.
 
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/subscribe">Subscribe to The Verge</a> for unlimited access to <a href="http://theverge.com/">theverge.com</a>, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge-podcast-ad-free-set-up-how-to">ad-free podcast feed</a>.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to <a href="mailto:vergecast@theverge.com">vergecast@theverge.com</a> or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

<description>Well, friends, it's been a year. And before we turn the page to 2026 and all the stories of 2025 begin to blur together, we decided to take stock of things. Nilay and David are joined by Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern to debate the best products of the year, the biggest policy moves, the people who broke bad, the good AI things, the bad AI things, and much more. It's been a vibe-everything kind of year, and there's a lot to discuss.



Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices</description>

Nilay and David are joined by Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern to debate the best products of the year

Well, friends, it's been a year. And before we turn the page to 2026 and all the stories of 2025 begin to blur together, we decided to take stock of things. Nilay and David are joined by Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern to debate the best products of the year, the biggest policy moves, the people who broke bad, the good AI things, the bad AI things, and much more. It's been a vibe-everything kind of year, and there's a lot to discuss.



Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2025 year in review

AI models are very good at summarizing things, finding other things like those things, and helping you find those things again. But does that mean we should leave all the work of finding and understanding to those models? Sari Azout, the founder of an app called Sublime, doesn't think so. For this episode, the second in our two-part series about how developers are using AI and building models into their products, Azout explains how Sublime tries to balance being a thoroughly human-focused app with the efficiencies that come with new technologies. She has thoughts on curation, taste, and the differences between AI as a creative partner and AI as a creative replacement.
 
Further reading:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://sublime.app/">Sublime</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>From Sari's newsletter: <a href="https://sublimeinternet.substack.com/p/what-matters-in-the-age-of-ai-is">What matters in the age of AI is taste</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>From The Atlantic: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/06/good-taste-ai/683101/">Good Taste Is More Important Than Ever</a>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/features/23764584/ai-artificial-intelligence-data-notation-labor-scale-surge-remotasks-openai-chatbots">AI Is a Lot of Work</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/17/24297892/ai-music-ge-wang-vergecast">Making human music in an AI world</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/subscribe">Subscribe to The Verge</a> for unlimited access to <a href="http://theverge.com/">theverge.com</a>, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bulletin/795051/verge-podcast-ad-free-set-up-how-to">ad-free podcast feed</a>.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to <a href="mailto:vergecast@theverge.com">vergecast@theverge.com</a> or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

<description>AI models are very good at summarizing things, finding other things like those things, and helping you find those things again. But does that mean we should leave all the work of finding and understanding to those models? Sari Azout, the founder of an app called Sublime, doesn't think so. For this episode, the second in our two-part series about how developers are using AI and building models into their products, Azout explains how Sublime tries to balance being a thoroughly human-focused app with the efficiencies that come with new technologies. She has thoughts on curation, taste, and the differences between AI as a creative partner and AI as a creative replacement.



Further reading:


 Sublime



 From Sari's newsletter: What matters in the age of AI is taste




 From The Atlantic: Good Taste Is More Important Than Ever




 AI Is a Lot of Work



 Making human music in an AI world


Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices</description>

AI models are very good at summarizing things, finding other things like those things, and helping you find those things again. But does that mean we should leave all the work of finding and understanding to those models? Sari Azout, the founder of an app called Sublime, doesn't think so. For this episode, the second in our two-part series about how developers are using AI and building models into their products, Azout explains how Sublime tries to balance being a thoroughly human-focused app with the efficiencies that come with new technologies. She has thoughts on curation, taste, and the differences between AI as a creative partner and AI as a creative replacement.



Further reading:


  Sublime



  From Sari's newsletter: What matters in the age of AI is taste




  From The Atlantic: Good Taste Is More Important Than Ever




  AI Is a Lot of Work



  Making human music in an AI world


Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A very human vision for going all-in on AI

The Vergecast is the flagship podcast from The Verge about small gadgets, Big Tech, and everything in between. Every Friday, hosts Nilay Patel and David Pierce hang out and make sense of the week’s most important technology news. And every Tuesday, David leads a selection of The Verge’s expert staffers in an exploration of how gadgets and software affect our lives – and which ones you should bring into yours. 

The Vergecast

Details

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