Join Kylie Robison, an AI reporter at The Verge renowned for her in-depth analysis, and Liz Lopato, tech reporter specializing in Elon Musk's ventures. They dive into ChatGPT's costly new features—Operator and deep research—and weigh their worth for users. The conversation shifts to Musk’s influence on Dogecoin and the government's inner workings. Both guests highlight the intertwining of AI and politics while sharing their mixed feelings about technology’s reliability and impact on research.
ChatGPT's new features, particularly Operator and Deep Research, enhance autonomy and research capabilities but raise concerns about accuracy and performance.
Elon Musk's involvement with government efficiency highlights potential risks of AI integration amid skepticism about accountability and oversight.
The Super Bowl's AI-focused commercials reflect a growing public interest in technology, paralleling past crypto advertising trends and showcasing market engagement.
Deep dives
AI Commercials Dominate the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl featured a multitude of commercials highlighting AI technology, which drew comparisons to the crypto ads seen a few years ago. A notable example was Google's advertisement for Gemini, which sparked enthusiasm among many viewers and increased interest in the AI tool. The discussion emphasized Google's proficiency in creating engaging commercials, showcasing the company's ability to connect with audiences despite its internal challenges. The halftime show hosted by Kendrick Lamar also contributed to the evening's entertainment, generating memes and online conversations that persisted beyond the event.
New Features of ChatGPT
ChatGPT has introduced several new features, including 'Operator,' 'Deep Research,' and 'Tasks,' garnering attention for their innovative functionalities. The Operator feature allows the AI to navigate the internet on behalf of the user, enhancing its capabilities by performing tasks like booking reservations. The Deep Research function has been designed for more thorough inquiries and allows the AI to return results after a given time, introducing more detailed research capabilities to the experience. Lastly, the Tasks feature reminds users about their tasks, although it has not captured the same level of excitement as the other two offerings.
Elon Musk and Government Efficiency
The podcast delved into Elon Musk's involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency and the various implications of his actions. As Musk pushes for the integration of AI into government operations, the challenges of bringing about significant changes amid existing bureaucratic structures are apparent. Skepticism regarding Musk's capability to manage such transitions has surfaced, especially considering the unpredictability associated with his leadership style. The discussion highlighted concerns that these shifts could lead to a decrease in accountability and oversight within the government.
Deep Research's Mixed Reception
Users have reported varying experiences with the Deep Research feature, reflecting both excitement and skepticism regarding its performance. While some users praised its ability to generate comprehensive insights quickly, others highlighted that the output often requires significant fact-checking due to inconsistencies. The quality of the information produced was labeled as a critical consideration, especially for high-stake inquiries. Despite its initial successes, there are concerns that without addressing its accuracy issues, Deep Research may not meet user expectations over time.
Operator's Limitations and Potential
Discussions surrounding the Operator feature pointed out its current performance limitations, particularly regarding efficiency in executing tasks. Users have expressed frustration with the slow pace at which Operator completes requests, often finding themselves attending to the process rather than benefiting from automation. Despite recognizing the technology as promising, there remains a consensus that Operator's utility is undermined by its sluggish response times, leaving room for improvement. As the technology evolves, the hope is that these enhancements will create a more seamless user experience.
Concerns Over Government Data Access
The podcast highlighted rising concerns regarding the potential risks of allowing individuals associated with Musk access to sensitive government data. Speculations about the ramifications of unauthorized access were discussed, particularly regarding the feasibility of personal information leaks. Furthermore, the conversation turned to the chilling effect such access could have on individuals speaking out against Musk and his initiatives. The implications of data mishandling in a politically charged environment raise critical questions about the safety and integrity of government operations moving forward.
AI and politics, politics and AI. That's the story of 2025. On this episode, The Verge's Kylie Robison joins the show to talk about ChatGPT's big new features, Operator and deep research, both of which promise to make the chatbot more useful and more autonomous. To access either one costs $200 a month — is it worth it? After that, The Verge's Liz Lopatto catches us up on the latest from Elon Musk and Doge, including why Musk is doing this thing, this way. Liz also makes the case that this isn't going to slow down anytime soon. Finally, Nilay Patel helps us answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline, and tells us how he felt about the Super Bowl's 4K stream.
