Apple's Intelligence beta and more AI chaos | The Vergecast

Intro (0s)

• The Vergecast hosts, Allison and V, are filling in for the usual hosts, David and Liam, who are both on vacation. They are excited to see what chaos will ensue without their usual guidance.
• The episode will cover a variety of topics, including the iOS 18.1 developer beta with Apple Intelligence, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, the upcoming Pixel 9 event, and the recent controversy surrounding subscription mice.
• The hosts are also experimenting with a new style of lightning round, taking advantage of the absence of David and Liam to try something new.

Olympics and TikTok Phenomenon (2m8s)

• The 2024 Olympics are being consumed differently than in previous years, with TikTok playing a significant role in how people are experiencing the games.
• The platform's native video format, combined with its community of users who are passionate about sports, has created a unique and engaging way to watch the Olympics.
• While NBC is doing a good job with its Peacock app, offering a variety of viewing options and features, TikTok's organic and often humorous commentary has become a popular alternative to traditional broadcast coverage.

iOS 18.1 Developer Beta Insights (12m59s)

• The iOS 18.1 developer beta features a new Siri interface with a glowing border and the ability to type to Siri. Siri also has improved context awareness, allowing it to better understand the flow of conversations.
• Other features include email summarization, which provides brief summaries of emails in the inbox, and natural language search in the Photos app, allowing users to search for photos based on descriptions like "food we ate in Iceland" or "this person wearing glasses."
• While the beta version includes these features, the full potential of Apple Intelligence, including Siri's ability to understand what's on the screen and take actions across apps, is still under development and expected to be released later. The timeline for these features is unclear, with some potentially not arriving until late 2025 or even 2026.

Pixel 9 Event Preview (24m10s)

• The Pixel 9 event is scheduled for August 13th, and the focus will likely be on software updates rather than hardware changes. The phones are expected to have similar designs to previous models, with the main difference being a new, potentially controversial camera bump.
• Google is expected to release a Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Buds Pro 2, and Pixel Watch 3. The Pixel Fold is particularly interesting, as it will be competing with Samsung's foldable phones, which have been criticized for their design.
• The main selling point of the new Pixel phones will be their software, which will feature AI integration through Gemini. New features include Pixel Screenshots, which allows users to manually take screenshots and search for specific information within them, and Circle to Search, which allows users to interact with their phones using voice commands and gestures.
• The speakers discuss the potential impact of these new features and whether they will be enough to convince users to switch from other brands, particularly Samsung. They also express concern about Google's commitment to these features and whether they will be abandoned after a short period of time.
• The conversation concludes with a humorous discussion about the importance of photo storage and how it can reflect a person's personality.

AI in Photography and Ethics (32m37s)

• The discussion revolves around the increasing use of AI in photo editing and the ethical implications of these features. The conversation specifically focuses on the "Add Me" feature rumored to be coming to the Pixel 9, which would allow users to digitally insert themselves into photos they weren't originally in.
• The speakers express concern about the potential for this technology to be misused, particularly in the context of social media and the spread of misinformation. They draw parallels to the existing practice of photo manipulation, highlighting how AI-powered features could make it even easier to create and share misleading images.
• The speakers also discuss the blurring lines between real and synthetic images, arguing that the increasing use of AI in photography could lead to a future where it becomes difficult to discern what is genuine. They emphasize the need for clear labeling and regulations to ensure transparency and prevent the spread of misinformation.

Galaxy Watch Ultra Review (45m6s)

• The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is essentially an Android version of the Apple Watch Ultra, with many similar features and design elements. The reviewer found that the watch is very similar to the Apple Watch Ultra, with only minor differences.
• The reviewer dislikes the "squirkle" design of the watch, finding it too chunky and uncomfortable to wear. They also found the watch's bright orange color to be too much, preferring the more subtle design of the regular Galaxy Watch 7.
• Despite the reviewer's personal preference for the design, they acknowledge that the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a great Android watch, offering many features and functionalities. They are disappointed that Samsung chose to create an Apple Watch-like device instead of continuing to develop its own unique smartwatch designs. The reviewer also expresses confusion about the "age" metric in the Samsung Health app, which measures advanced glycation end products (AGEs) but doesn't provide a clear explanation of how it works.

Non-Invasive Health Monitoring (49m0s)

• The chapter discusses Apple's new health monitoring feature, which uses non-invasive methods like shining light into the skin and analyzing the reflection.
• This feature is still in its experimental phase and has not been cleared by the FDA.
• Samsung, the company behind the technology, is unsure how users will utilize this feature and is simply observing how people interact with it.

AI-Powered Features and Sleep Tracking (49m46s)

• The speaker discusses how many new features on Apple devices are marketed as "AI-powered" and provide "AI insights."
• The speaker expresses confusion about the insights provided by the Apple Watch's sleep tracking feature, as it gave conflicting messages about their sleep consistency.
• The speaker finds the conflicting messages unhelpful and suggests that the AI insights are not always accurate or useful.

Confusing Age Metrics (50m17s)

• The text discusses the "age" metric used in Apple's new smartwatch, which measures metabolic age based on how protein and fat are oxidized by sugar. The speakers find this metric confusing and meaningless, as it doesn't correlate with actual age and provides no actionable insights.
• The speakers point out that while metabolic age is a research topic, it's not a well-established metric in consumer wearables. They compare it to Samsung's "cardiovascular age" metric, highlighting a growing trend in wearables to assess how a person's physical state aligns with their actual age.
• The speakers express concern about the potential for these metrics to negatively impact mental health, as they can create anxiety and pressure to achieve a certain "ideal" age. They criticize the app's advice for improving the "age" metric, which simply suggests eating healthy, sleeping well, and exercising, highlighting the lack of meaningful information provided.

Samsung Ecosystem Limitations (54m4s)

• The chapter discusses the limitations of the Samsung ecosystem, particularly when it comes to health and fitness features.
• Many of the advanced features, such as EKG readings, AIB detection, and sleep tracking, are exclusive to Galaxy phones and require the Samsung Health Monitor app, which is separate from the standard Samsung Health app.
• The AI features, while potentially beneficial, are also limited to Galaxy phones and can be inconsistent, sometimes providing contradictory advice.

Listener Feedback on Samsung Ecosystem (55m14s)

• The hosts discuss the lack of responses from Samsung ecosystem users when asked about their experiences, contrasting this with the overwhelming response they receive when asking about Apple users.
• One email received from a Samsung user details their experience with a broken Fold 4 and the difficulties they faced trying to get it repaired under warranty.
• Another email from a Samsung user highlights their extensive use of Samsung devices, including a Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, multiple Samsung TVs, appliances, and even a robot vacuum. However, the user's husband uses an iPhone and iPad, creating a unique household dynamic.
• The hosts discuss the "Saturday Samsung" phenomenon, where Samsung employees are required to work six days a week due to declining sales. This has led to some bizarre marketing campaigns, including promoting the Galaxy Z Flip as a body camera for police officers.
• The hosts express their disbelief and amusement at Samsung's decision to market the Z Flip as a body camera, highlighting the absurdity of using a folding phone for this purpose. They also point out the lack of security and practicality of such a solution.
• The hosts conclude by discussing the "Lightning Round" segment of the podcast, which is currently unsponsored. They mention receiving numerous emails from individuals offering to sponsor the segment, but they are only interested in legitimate companies with substantial financial resources.

Logitech’s Subscription Mouse Controversy (1h5m20s)

• Logitech's new CEO, Hanukkah Faber, announced a subscription-based mouse model, sparking controversy and confusion. The idea was to create a high-quality mouse with software updates that would last forever, but the monetization strategy through subscriptions was met with widespread criticism. The host, Nilay Patel, expressed his bewilderment at the concept, questioning what value a subscription would provide for a mouse. He compared the situation to the backlash against subscription printers, highlighting the public's negative reaction to the idea.
• The discussion then shifted to the growing issue of deepfakes and the potential for AI-generated content to be misused. Patel highlighted Elon Musk's hypocrisy in posting a deepfake video of Kamala Harris on X (formerly Twitter) despite implementing policies against deepfakes. He also discussed various efforts to address the problem, including Google's attempts to hide explicit deepfakes from search results, Microsoft's call for congressional action to outlaw AI-generated deepfakes, and the Copyright Office's report advocating for new legislation to address the issue.
• The conversation concluded with a discussion about the No Fakes Act, a proposed bill aimed at regulating deepfakes. Patel acknowledged the potential for this legislation to swing the pendulum too far in the direction of censorship, potentially restricting legitimate forms of impersonation and satire. He emphasized the need for careful consideration and a balanced approach to address the issue, recognizing the potential harm of deepfakes while also protecting freedom of expression.

The Changing Landscape of Web Search (1h22m52s)

• The web search landscape is rapidly changing. The traditional model of search engines indexing and displaying content from the open web is being disrupted. Companies like Reddit and publishers are demanding payment from search engines to access their content. This is a significant shift from the previous model where content was freely available for indexing.
• AI-powered search engines are driving this change. Companies like Microsoft, Perplexity, and OpenAI are developing AI-powered search engines that can provide answers to user queries without requiring them to click on links. These engines are scraping content from websites, leading to disputes over copyright and fair use.
• The future of search is uncertain. It is unclear how the web will evolve as search engines become more reliant on AI and paid content. There is a growing concern that the open web will become fragmented and dominated by walled gardens, where access to information is controlled by a few powerful companies. The rise of AI-generated content also raises concerns about the reliability and accuracy of information found online.

Credits (1h31m2s)

• The Vergecast episode concludes with a lighthearted exchange between the hosts, expressing their enjoyment of the recording session.
• The hosts acknowledge the contributions of David, a member of the team, and jokingly declare him "dead to them" for an unspecified reason.
• The episode wraps up with a call to action for listeners to provide feedback and a reminder that the Vergecast is a production of The Verge and Vox Media Podcast Network.