ChatGPT is Evolving Into the Ultimate All-in-One Platform – And That Changes Everything
Welcome to the 101st edition of Installer, your go-to source for the most cutting-edge and engaging content in tech and pop culture. (First time here? Get ready for a delightful mix of quirky gadgets and insightful reads – and catch up on past editions here.)
This week, I dove into stories about Intel’s futuristic factories, groundbreaking Nobel Prize winners, and audacious ATM heists. I’ve also been binge-watching a punk-rock cover of Defying Gravity, revisiting my emo-phase nostalgia with The Format’s reunion, keeping up with Critical Role’s latest campaign, and shamelessly indulging in Love Is Blind. Oh, and I’ve been clinging to my Pop Phone handset for calls, obsessing over RSS reader deep dives, and testing Google’s Pixelsnap Charger – all while dodging this season’s inevitable cold. (Wish me luck.)
But here’s what really has me buzzing: ChatGPT is morphing into an all-encompassing app ecosystem, and it’s a game-changer. Plus, I’ve got fresh podcast recommendations, Tim Robinson’s bizarre new show, the latest Battlefield installment, and more. Let’s jump in!
(As always, the best part of Installer is YOU. What’s caught your attention this week? What should we all be reading, watching, playing, or obsessing over? Email me at installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal @davidpierce.11. And if you know someone who’d love this, send them to subscribe to The Verge.)
The Drop: This Week’s Must-See Picks
- ChatGPT’s App Revolution: OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT as an operating system – a bold but logical move. Imagine asking Spotify to craft a playlist or Expedia to book flights, all within ChatGPT. It’s seamless, and honestly, it just works. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this the future of tech, or just another walled garden?
- Hidden Levels Podcast: Two legendary podcasts (99% Invisible and Endless Thread) teamed up for a deep dive into how video game mechanics influence real life. Pure genius—give me 100 more episodes!
- The Oatmeal’s AI Art Critique: A surprisingly heartfelt comic explores whether AI-generated art can ever evoke the same emotions as human-made work. (Spoiler: It’s complicated.)
- Tim Robinson’s *The Chair Company*: If you love absurd humor spiraling into conspiracy theories, this is your next obsession.
- TV Cleaning 101: A 5-minute tutorial convinced me to ditch Windex—my screen has never been clearer.
- Subway Builder: If you’ve ever lost hours to Mini Metro, this hyper-detailed transit sim will consume your life.
- Battlefield 6: Strikes a rare balance between tight shooter action and sprawling warfare. Is this the series’ comeback?
- Belkin’s iPhone PowerGrip: An $80 battery/camera grip? Overpriced or a game-changer? I’m leaning toward the latter.
Featured Creator: Stephen Robles on Shortcuts, Apps, and Productivity
Stephen Robles is everywhere—Riverside.fm tutorials, his Primary Tech podcast, and a YouTube channel packed with Apple tips. I challenged him to defend iOS Shortcuts (which I find clunky), and we’re debating it soon on The Vergecast. But first, here’s a peek at his homescreen and current obsessions:
- Phone: iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Wallpaper: Rotates between Basic Apple Guy’s gradients and NASA’s Pillars of Creation.
- Top Apps: Perplexity (for AI-powered search), Bear (notes), Things (task management), and Foodnoms (health tracking—he’s lost 30 lbs!).
Stephen’s Picks:
- Hank Green’s takes on AI and the internet.
- Happy Gilmore nostalgia with his kids.
- The mind-bending book Four Thousand Weeks.
- TikTok skate tricks and the new Skate game.
- And yes, Shortcuts. (We’ll settle this later.)
Community Highlights
What’s the Installer crowd into? Here’s a taste:
- Jon: Fell in love with The Dream Eaters via Instagram’s algorithm.
- Simon: Modding a PS Vita for retro gaming glory.
- Sophia: Made her Switch 2 see-through with an ExtremeRate kit.
- Sara: Uses NotebookLM to instantly find answers in product manuals.
Final Thought: A Show for Passionate Perfectionists
For years, I’ve recommended Somm, a documentary about Master Sommeliers chasing an impossible dream. Now, Knife Edge (Apple TV+) fills that void—it’s Hell’s Kitchen meets Drive to Survive, following chefs battling for Michelin stars. Dramatic? Yes. Inspiring? Absolutely.
What’s your take? Is ChatGPT’s OS ambition revolutionary or overreach? And what’s your Somm-level obsession? Let’s debate in the comments!
Catch you next week. Stay curious.
