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The Stepback

The Stepback is a weekly breakdown of one essential story from across the tech world. Every Sunday, we’ll bring you an exciting new story from a rotating cast of writers from every corner of The Verge extended universe. The Stepback is built to dig in deeper on the biggest stories and topics at The Verge. Subscribe to The Verge for exclusive access.

The AI sexting era has arrivedThe AI sexting era has arrived
Column
Column
Hayden Field
Welcome to the ‘papers, please’ internet

Porn is increasingly age-gated. Social media is next.

Adi Robertson
Can tap-to-pay save public transportation?

More cities are adopting OMNY-like open-loop payment systems for transit. Can it keep transit from slipping into a death spiral?

Andrew J. Hawkins
How generative AI boosters are trying to break into Hollywood

AI startups want to brute force their way into the movie business, even though the tech isn’t ready for its closeup.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Why PlayStation and Xbox are no longer about the station or the box

On Sony, Microsoft, and the future of game consoles.

Sean Hollister
Phone batteries are getting more compact, but the US is missing out

Silicon-carbon cells are leading to thinner phones with longer battery life.

Dominic Preston
Computer chips, with a side of forever chemicals

Supply, demand, and deregulation.

Justine Calma
AI agents are science fiction not yet ready for primetime

But they’re getting better.

Hayden Field
They’re trying to make deep-sea mining happen

The US is saying ‘to hell with the international mining code.’

Justine Calma
The one feature that keeps me from recommending flip phones

Dust could spell death for a foldable’s inner screen.

Allison Johnson
How big trucks and SUVs gobbled up the entire auto industry

‘Car bloat’ is what you get when companies prioritize profits over safety.

Andrew J. Hawkins
Introducing Regulator and The Stepback, our new subscriber-exclusive newsletters

We’re launching two exclusive newsletters and a partnership with Lowpass by Janko Roettgers.

Kara Verlaney