Big Tech is back on trial

The Vergecast

Vox Media Podcast Network

News, Tech News, Technology

4.4 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 18 April 2025

⏱️ 114 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We promise, this episode is only a little bit about header bidding. Nilay and David are joined by The Verge’s Alex Heath to talk about some big news in tech regulation: Google lost its ad-tech monopoly trial, which could reshape both Google and the internet altogether. And that’s not the only monopoly news! Meta’s trial also started this week, and Alex was there to see Mark Zuckerberg and others try to defend Instagram, WhatsApp, and the company as a whole. After all that, we talk about OpenAI’s plans to build a social network, and how this company seems to never run out of ambition. Finally, in the lightning round, it’s time for another round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, and some news about viral cameras and the Switch 2. Which we’ll be yeeting into our homes as soon as possible Further reading: Google loses ad tech monopoly case FTC v. Meta live: the latest from the battle over Instagram and WhatsApp Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defends Instagram purchase in antitrust trial Zuckerberg defends his empire during FTC antitrust trial Mark Zuckerberg suggested spinning off Instagram Mark Zuckerberg tells court that Meta made WhatsApp, Instagram better Mark Zuckerberg once suggested wiping all Facebook friends lists to boost usage Meta reportedly offered $1 billion to settle the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit. Zuckerberg defends his empire during FTC antitrust trial Google, Apple, and Snap aren’t happy about Meta’s poorly-redacted slides Meta’s antitrust trial slide redactions aren’t actually hiding anything OpenAI is building a social network OpenAI debuts its GPT-4.1 flagship AI model OpenAI might finally get better model names soon. OpenAI’s upgraded o3 model can use images when reasoning ChatGPT will now remember your old conversations OpenAI is reportedly considering a $3 billion deal to buy AI coding tool Windsurf. Netflix is testing a new OpenAI-powered search Brendan Carr on X The Media and Democracy Project on Bluesky Trump excludes smartphones, computers, chips from higher tariffs Smartphone tariffs are coming back in ‘a month or two,’ says Trump admin TSMC is unfazed by tariffs. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer: “I want to support Switch 2.” In pursuit of a viral, five-year-old compact camera Email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're the owner of a small business, which means you're also the tech guy and HR and personal assistant and head honcho and intern.
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0:27.6	Verizon Business.
0:31.7	Soon enough, high schoolers will be donning those caps and gowns.
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0:38.3	decade ago. Students are genuinely questioning if college is worth it and if college is really the
0:43.8	right thing for them, knowing what they know about themselves. This week on explain it to me, a look
0:48.9	at the new range of alternatives to college and how some high schools are setting up their graduates for success.
0:55.3	New episodes on Sunday mornings, wherever you get your podcasts.
1:00.4	Hey, this is Peter Kafka. I'm the host of channels, a show about media and tech and lots
1:05.7	of other stuff. And this week I learned about how to make money in media and specifically how to do that in Washington, D.C. in 2025.
1:14.6	My guest, Jake Sherman, the co-founder of Punch Bowl News.
1:18.6	That's the fast-growing super inside the Beltway pub that covers Congress and Congress and nothing else.
1:24.9	And it's working.
1:26.1	That's on channels wherever you hear your favorite pods
1:28.8	hello and welcome to the flagship podcast knowing what facebook is
1:39.1	just surprisingly complicated we're gonna we going to explain that in great detail.
1:44.4	I'm your friend, Neely.
1:45.2	David Pierce is here.
	...

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