Editorial illustration for The Vergecast's Wild 2026 Tech Predictions: From Sexy Siri to AI's Future
The Vergecast's Bold 2026 Tech Predictions: AI & Beyond
The Vergecast previews 2026 predictions, from Sexy Siri to OpenAI’s end
What if 2026 brings a smarter, sexier Siri, and the collapse of OpenAI? That’s the kind of hot take simmering in the latest episode of The Vergecast. Nilay and David are joined by Joanna Stern, the Wall Street Journal’s senior tech columnist, to sort predictions into three tiers: mild, medium, and spicy.
Some are safe bets, an Apple foldable, the long-awaited drop of Grand Theft Auto VI, maybe even an EV revival. Others burn hotter. Will self-driving cars finally face their reckoning?
Could the flood of AI slop push us off our favorite platforms entirely? And which tech giant is headed for catastrophe? They’ve got bets, not certainties.
But after a year of wrong guesses (catch the review episode for that humility), they’re doubling down on 2026’s biggest shakeups. Listen in.
On The Vergecast: What's coming in 2026, in increasing order of hotness. On this episode of The Vergecast, Sexy Siri is just one of the topics at hand. Nilay and David are joined by Joanna Stern, senior tech columnist at The Wall Street Journal, to talk through their most mild, medium, and spicy predictions for the year to come.
There are some reasonable, even fairly likely, predictions made in this episode. The hosts debate the likelihood of an Apple foldable, what might happen when Grand Theft Auto VI finally drops, and the possibility of a comeback for EVs. Is 2026 the year of reckoning for self-driving cars?
Will the onslaught of AI slop force us to demand new features from our social media, or make us move to a new one altogether? And which of the biggest companies in tech is headed for a truly disastrous year? Not all of our predictions will come true (they sure didn't this year -- check out our year in review episode for those results), but we're betting on some big shakeups in tech in 2026.
What do you think is coming in 2026?
The predictions are on the table. Some will land with a thud, others might reshape the entire landscape. Apple’s foldable, GTA VI, the EV revival, self-driving’s reckoning: these aren’t just tech headlines.
They’re stress tests for an industry running low on patience. OpenAI’s end? That’s the spicy one.
Not because it’s likely, but because it forces a question we’d rather dodge: what happens when the golden child stumbles? Sexy Siri is fun. The real bet is whether any of these bets matter.
2026 won’t wait. It’s coming for every answer we don’t have yet.
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Common Questions Answered
What makes The Vergecast's 2026 tech predictions unique?
The Vergecast offers a no-holds-barred approach to tech predictions, featuring hosts like Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Joanna Stern who provide a mix of reasonable speculation and provocative hot takes. Their predictions range from mildly intriguing to downright audacious, creating an entertaining and insightful look into potential future tech developments.
What is the 'Sexy Siri' concept mentioned in the podcast?
While the specific details of 'Sexy Siri' are not fully elaborated in the article, it appears to be one of the more playful and provocative predictions discussed by the podcast hosts. The term seems to be part of the podcast's approach to making bold and attention-grabbing tech predictions for 2026.
Who are the key personalities discussing tech predictions in this Vergecast episode?
The podcast features three prominent tech journalists: Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Joanna Stern from The Wall Street Journal. These experts bring their unique perspectives and insights to explore potential technological developments and trends for the year 2026.
Further Reading
- The end of OpenAI, and other 2026 predictions — The Vergecast - Apple Podcasts
- Sexy Siri, and other predictions for 2026 | The Vergecast — The Verge (YouTube)
- On The Vergecast, we look back at the year as it wraps up and dig into what we're most anticipating for 2026 — The Verge (YouTube Shorts)
- 58 - AWS re:Invent 2026 predictions – Shuki Cohen, AI21 — LangTalks - Apple Podcasts
