The Pixel 9 is great — and one problem

Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge

Google did a lot of things right with the Pixel 9 lineup. The hardware is superb, the chip is fast, even the huge camera bump has a silver lining, you know? It’s a proper Android flagship in every way. It also feels a bit like a harbinger of doom, not to be dramatic.

The Pixel 9’s AI photography features, especially the “Reimagine” tool that lets you edit your photos with a simple prompt, feel like a big and worrying step toward a world in which we can no longer trust photos of virtually any kind. These aren’t photos generated by AI with too many fingers and a bunch of other cues; they just look like photos. are Pictures! But they’re not real. And we’re not ready for what that means.

In this episode of The VergecastWe talk about the Pixel 9, what’s here, and what’s coming for AI cameras. After that, we discuss some streaming news, including the possibility of another twist in the Paramount acquisition saga and the controversial cancellation of The Acolyte. Then we come to the major event of the week: Chick-fil-A’s imminent entry into the streaming wars. We have some guesses about the company’s plans and some (in our opinion) pretty strong content ideas.

Finally, it’s time for the lightning round, where we talk about JBL’s new headphone case and its even bigger screen, the never-ending disaster that is the new Sonos app, and Amazon’s deeply strange decision to kill the core feature of its digital photo frame.

If you’re interested in learning more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, starting with the Pixel 9:

• Google Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL review: AI everywhere

• Google’s AI Tool Helped Us Add Disasters and Dead Bodies to Our Photos

• Nobody is ready for this
• This system can sort real images from fake AI-generated ones: why aren’t platforms using it?
• The era of AI photo editing has arrived
• From Digital trends:I tried Google’s new Pixel Studio app, and it’s a disaster

And on everything streaming related:

• New $6 billion bid for Paramount could scupper plans for merger with Skydance
• The 2024 Olympics were a huge victory for television in all its forms
• The Acolyte has been cancelled
• Chick-fil-A is reportedly launching a streaming service for some reason
• Spotify star Alex Cooper joins new podcast network

And in the lightning round:

• Alex Cranz’s Pick: JBL Made Its Charging Case’s Touchscreen More Useful by Increasing the Size
• Richard Lawler’s Pick: Amazon is killing Echo Show 8 Photos Edition’s main feature: focusing on photos
• David Pierce’s Pick: Sonos CEO Says Old App Can’t Be Re-Released