The Vergecast The end of OpenAI, and other 2026 predictions
201 snips
Dec 14, 2025 
Joanna Stern, a Senior tech columnist known for her engaging consumer tech insights, joins the hosts to forecast bold predictions for 2026. They dive into the potential arrival of a foldable iPhone and discuss how the EV market might bounce back. Joanna warns about a likely major incident with Waymo that stirs debates on safety, while Nilay speculates on the fate of OpenAI, suggesting its potential collapse. The conversation also touches on the emergence of human-first creator platforms and the possible normalization of AI in everyday tech.
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Yearly Photo Review Ritual
- David Pierce describes his yearly ritual of reviewing photos and journaling to reflect and set goals.
- He uses Google Photos and a document to pull meaningful images and make plans for the next year.
Foldable iPhone: Early Adopter, Not Mainstream
- Apple will ship a foldable iPhone that lands as an expensive early-adopter device rather than a mass-market hit.
- The rollout will spark media and fan outrage about price and unclear use cases.
GTA 6 Could Be A Cultural Tsunami
- GTA 6 could become a massive cultural and economic event that engulfs players worldwide.
- Alternatively, it might flop and cause a notable downturn in gaming sentiment, making the outcome binary.