The Vergecast

Vibe coding through the GPT-5 mess

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Key takeaways

  • GPT-5's launch has been disappointing, leading to a demand for better communication from OpenAI.
  • 'Vibe coding' with AI can be frustrating, highlighting the difficulties users face when trying to create functional apps.
  • The corporate world is filled with strange moves, like Apple's lawsuit against a theater chain and perplexity's absurd offer to buy Google Chrome.
  • With the dangers of AI overreliance, studies show healthcare professionals might be losing diagnostic skills.
  • Nostalgia is strong with the relaunch of devices like the Pebble Time 2 amidst the closure of services like AOL dial-up.

Summary

The Launch of GPT-5

The episode opens with a discussion about the bumpy launch of OpenAI's GPT-5. The hosts, Jake, Vee, and Hayden, share their insights about the frustrations and disappointments that users have faced when transitioning from GPT-4 to GPT-5. They analyze how the expectations for a significant upgrade were not met, leading to user backlash that prompted further updates on GPT-5's personality and capabilities.

Vibe Coding Projects

Following the GPT-5 discussion, the hosts recount their personal 'vibe coding' projects and the challenges they encountered when using AI to create usable applications. While the excitement for AI capabilities is high, the results are often disheartening and illustrative of the limitations of current technology, as they navigate through code and learn the hard way about the complexities involved with minimal guidance from AI.

Corporate Shenanigans

The podcast features a new segment named Corporate Shenanigans, where the hosts rate unusual corporate moves from the week. The discussions include topics ranging from perplexing statements by companies like perplexity regarding their perceived acquisition of Google Chrome, to Apple's lawsuit against Apple Cinemas over branding, to the ongoing antitrust actions involving Elon Musk and Apple.

The Thunder Round Returns

The final segment of the episode is a revamped Thunder Round, where the hosts talk about various topics, including the challenges of living without a smartphone when using a smartwatch, the concerning results from studies showing doctors relying too much on AI, and the nostalgic end of AOL dial-up internet. They finish with a discussion on the relaunch of the Pebble Time 2 smartwatch and the implications of whether or not AI chatbots can truly share their inner functionalities.

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Show notes

GPT-5 is here, and it’s not going so well. This week on The Vergecast, Jake, Vee, and Hayden discuss the bumpy launch of OpenAI’s latest model and why GPT-5 isn’t as big of a leap as GPT-4.

Then, everyone shares their vibe coding projects and the bumpy journey to making anything usable. After that, our newest segment: Corporate Shenanigans, where we rate the week in strange corporate moves on a scale from “actually serious” to “total joke.”

Finally, the Thunder Round returns, new and improved, to discuss ditching your phone for a smartwatch, doctors relying too much on AI, AOL dial-up shutting down, the Pebble Time 2, and why you shouldn’t trust what AI chatbots say about themselves.

Further reading:

ChatGPT won’t remove old models without warning after GPT-5 backlash

OpenAI will update GPT-5’s “personality” after user backlash

ChatGPT is bringing back 4o as an option because people missed it

Sam Altman shared more about what went wrong with those GPT-5 graphs

OpenAI gives some employees a ‘special’ multimillion-dollar bonus

Anthropic just made its latest move in the AI coding wars

Anthropic’s Claude chatbot can now remember your past conversations

Perplexity offers to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion

Apple is suing Apple Cinemas

Apple Cinemas responds to Apple lawsuit

Apple returns blood oxygen monitoring to the latest Apple Watches

Elon Musk says he’s suing Apple for rigging App Store rankings

Ditching my phone for an LTE smartwatch was a humbling experience

Here’s a look at the final Pebble Time 2 design 

Some doctors got worse at detecting cancer after relying on AI

Google’s healthcare AI made up a body part — what happens when doctors don’t notice?

Chatbots aren’t telling you their secrets

AOL is finally shutting down dial-up

Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you.
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