This week, The Vergecast examined the tech industry's persistent faith in hardware and platforms that haven't yet proven their value: from Valve's Steam Machine to Meta's gambling ambitions and Google's latest smart home offerings. The episodes reveal a pattern of companies doubling down on unproven bets while consumers remain skeptical, whether it's the durability of smart glasses or the actual utility of new devices in crowded markets. Meanwhile, the week also tackled the unglamorous but essential work of data training that powers these flashy products, grounding the conversation in the infrastructure often invisible to users.
Episodes This Week
Get a free sample digest — no signup needed
Real AI summaries from top the vergecast podcasts, straight to your inbox.
or
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. We'll send one sample digest, then you decide.
Other Weeks
This Week in The Vergecast (Aug 3 - Aug 9, 2026)
5 episodes · Aug 3 – Aug 9
This Week in The Vergecast (Jul 27 - Aug 2, 2026)
5 episodes · Jul 27 – Aug 2
This Week in The Vergecast (Jul 20 - Jul 26, 2026)
5 episodes · Jul 20 – Jul 26
This Week in The Vergecast (Jul 13 - Jul 19, 2026)
5 episodes · Jul 13 – Jul 19
This Week in The Vergecast (Jul 6 - Jul 12, 2026)
5 episodes · Jul 6 – Jul 12
This Week in The Vergecast (Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2026)
5 episodes · Jun 29 – Jul 5
This Week in The Vergecast (Jun 15 - Jun 21, 2026)
5 episodes · Jun 15 – Jun 21
This Week in The Vergecast (Jun 8 - Jun 14, 2026)
5 episodes · Jun 8 – Jun 14
This Week in The Vergecast (Jun 1 - Jun 7, 2026)
5 episodes · Jun 1 – Jun 7
This Week in The Vergecast (May 25 - May 31, 2026)
2 episodes · May 25 – May 31
This Week in The Vergecast (May 18 - May 24, 2026)
2 episodes · May 18 – May 24