The Vergecast tests Apple’s new Siri AI after its latest update
The Verge says its hosts found Apple’s updated Siri more capable in early use, while the episode also covers social apps and tech headlines.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
The Vergecast’s latest episode centers on Apple’s new AI-powered version of Siri, with The Verge reporting that early use by its hosts suggests the assistant is more capable than before. The discussion matters because Siri is built into the iPhone, giving Apple a direct route to put AI tools in front of a large consumer audience.
David Pierce of The Verge wrote that he and Nilay Patel discussed their first days using Siri AI on the podcast. Pierce said the new assistant does not feel like a frontier product or a dramatic break from existing AI tools, but he described it as functional across many tasks.
The Verge framed the update against Siri’s long record as an uneven product. Pierce wrote that Apple’s assistant has spent years ranging from useful in limited cases to frustrating for basic requests, including timers.
According to The Verge, the new episode considers what a better Siri could mean for iPhone users and for the broader AI industry. The central point of the discussion is that a built-in assistant that reliably handles common requests could change how many people encounter AI, even if the underlying features are not presented as novel.
Social apps look for smaller spaces
The episode also turns to social networking. The Verge said Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube have all announced features meant to make large platforms feel more personal.
Pierce wrote that group chats have been taking over some of the role once held by public posting. The podcast uses the new features from those platforms to discuss whether the broad, Twitter-style feed is losing its place as the center of online conversation.
The Verge did not list every feature in the podcast post, but it linked its coverage of Instagram changes, Bluesky communities and YouTube’s return of private messaging. The common thread, according to Pierce, is a push toward smaller groups and more controlled interactions inside major social services.
Other topics on the episode
The Verge said the episode also includes its recurring Hype Desk segment, a segment titled “Brendan Carr is a Dummy,” and a lightning round of additional tech news. Those items include the Trump Phone, Anthropic’s Claude Fable, solar energy and an AT&T data-plan deal for iPad users.
In the solar segment, The Verge’s linked coverage says solar has overtaken coal in the United States for the first time. The Trump Phone item points to The Verge’s report on an iFixit teardown connecting the T1 device to HTC’s U24 Pro.
The Verge also noted several related episodes and streams from the same week. They included initial reactions to WWDC, a discussion of Steve Jobs’ career and legacy, answers to WWDC questions and a conversation about whether YouTubers are shaping the future of movie theaters.
The episode is available to watch, listen to or receive through The Verge’s ad-free podcast option, according to the site. Pierce also directed listeners to the Vergecast Hotline and the show’s email address for feedback.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.