The Vergecast launches a challenge series with an AI-built website showdown
This preview is based on the episode’s published show notes. The Vergecast kicks off a new challenge-format series by comparing AI projects Verge staffers have actually kept using, then setting a bigger assignment: build a website that solves a real-life problem.
This episode looks like the starting point for a new Vergecast experiment rather than a traditional news rundown. Based on the show notes, the team is launching an as-yet-unnamed series where Verge staffers take on a challenge, then return later to compare results and see who pulled it off best. The first theme is “vibe coding.” Jake Kastrenakes and Hayden Field share examples of things they’ve made with AI that have genuinely remained useful in their daily lives. That framing suggests the conversation may be less about flashy demos and more about which AI-built projects actually stick after the novelty wears off. Then comes the main setup: David issues the challenge for the next installment — build a website to solve a problem in your life, with bonus points for ambition and impressiveness. If you like episodes that tee up an ongoing experiment, this sounds like one to catch before the follow-up arrives. The notes also point to related Verge reading on AI-assisted personal software, smart-home tinkering with Claude, and several broader tech news stories. So even though this preview can’t speak to the full audio conversation, the episode appears aimed at listeners curious about practical AI building, lightweight competition between staffers, and where “vibe coding” becomes something more durable than a weekend project.
About this episode
It's time for a new series on The Vergecast! (It still needs a name. Please help.) We're going to give Verge staffers a challenge, and regroup a few weeks later to see who did it best. We're starting with some vibe coding. The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes and Hayden Field share what they've made with AI that has actually stuck in their lives, before David gives the challenge: build a website to solve a problem in your life. The more ambitious and impressive the better. We'll be back with the results soon, and in the meantime, send us ideas for more challenges! (Also, names for the series. PLEASE.) Further reading: Anthropic’s Mythos 5 is back | The Verge Supreme Court allows firing of FTC commissioners, ends agency independence Comcast is splitting in two | The Verge WhatsApp is launching usernames: here’s how to reserve yours | The Verge Welcome to the personal software revolution I used Claude to vibe-code my wildly overcomplicated smart home Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed.We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices