The Vergecast previews 2026 predictions, from Sexy Siri to OpenAI’s end
The Verge’s flagship podcast is back with a forward‑looking episode that treats 2026 as a calendar of tech talk rather than a distant blur. In a market‑trends piece titled “The end of OpenAI, and other 2026 predictions,” Nilay Patel and David Pierce line up a handful of forecasts, from the mildly amusing to the decidedly provocative. Their guest, Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journal, adds a column‑shaped perspective, nudging the conversation beyond the usual hype.
The format leans into a tiered ranking, letting listeners gauge which ideas are just a whisper and which feel more like a shout. With “Sexy Siri” already on the agenda, the trio promises a blend of humor, speculation, and hard‑nosed analysis. If you’re curious about how the hosts separate the whimsical from the consequential, the following excerpt lays out exactly what’s on the table.
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 pre
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?
Will Siri ever become charming enough to spark affection? The Vergecast episode lists 2026 ideas, ranking them from mild to spicy, ending with the notion of a “Sexy Siri.” Nilay, David, and Joanna Stern walk listeners through a series of speculative scenarios, including the bold claim that OpenAI could cease to exist. The conversation acknowledges that such forecasts are far from certain, noting that the technology needed for a truly love‑inducing assistant remains undefined.
Yet the hosts treat the ideas as conversation starters rather than concrete roadmaps. Some listeners might find the predictions entertaining; others may question their feasibility. Without hard data, the podcast can only outline possibilities, leaving the actual outcomes ambiguous.
In short, the show offers a playful inventory of what could happen, while reminding the audience that many of these visions hinge on developments that have yet to materialize. Is the hype around a charismatic voice assistant justified, or is it merely a media tease? The episode does not provide evidence, merely speculation.
Listeners are left to decide whether the projected end of OpenAI is plausible or sensational.
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
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Common Questions Answered
What is the “Sexy Siri” prediction discussed on The Vergecast for 2026?
The hosts speculate that Siri could evolve into a charming, love‑inducing assistant that sparks affection from users. They note that the technology required for such a truly seductive AI remains undefined, making the prediction highly speculative.
Which guest contributed a column‑shaped perspective to the 2026 predictions episode?
Joanna Stern, senior tech columnist at The Wall Street Journal, joined Nilay Patel and David Pierce on the episode. Her column‑shaped perspective helped push the conversation beyond typical hype and added nuanced analysis to the forecasts.
What bold claim does the episode make about OpenAI’s future by 2026?
The Vergecast episode boldly suggests that OpenAI could cease to exist by 2026. This provocative assertion is presented as one of the spiciest predictions, though the hosts acknowledge it is far from certain.
How do the hosts categorize their 2026 forecasts on The Vergecast?
Nilay Patel and David Pierce rank their predictions in increasing order of hotness: mild, medium, and spicy. The most provocative scenario, the “Sexy Siri,” caps the list as the spiciest forecast.