Gadget love

What we want in our pockets and why your opinion matters

In a recent Vergecast (1), journalist reviewers David Pierce, Allison Johnson and Victoria Song ranked eight devices – gadgets – from most-to-least likely to be effective at bringing us useful AI.

The discussion struck me as wonderful for a variety of reasons: First, we generally love gadgets. They are tangible. Every technology that has come to us – whether cellular voice connection, Internet searches, tracking our steps, or now AI – reached us through a new, often surprising piece of hardware.

I especially enjoyed hearing how people look at gadget forms these days. The reviewers traded observations about which shapes were practical in pockets, purses, bags, on your body, at your side – and how that would impact their intended uses of AI. The conversation gave insight into how we are integrating devices in our lives. Why it will matter to us going forward.

The rankings: yours, Vergecast’s and JANE’s

Here is a little poll to compare your ranking with a selected bit of the Vergecast ranking. When you submit your answer, you will first see the Vergecast’s view. And with a second click, can check out how JANE sees it. (2)

Note: This poll is for fun and curiosity. For the full Vergecast ranking, please go to the podcast. No spoilers here! It’s worth a listen.

Our social priorities

I also found the reviewers’ thoughts about acceptable public gadget behavior intriguing. It seems better when in the presence of others, for example, to speak quickly into your ring or watch than to simply “shout in the air” because you are wearing AirPods.

Then there is ear bud etiquette. Do you take them out when you order a coffee in a café – at least one of them? (These reviewers – in their late 30s – were somewhat aghast at younger generations for not bothering to be so polite.)

Across-the-board, we don’t want to manage constant upgrades for a bunch of additional devices or have a big ecosystem of things that need to be charged. It’s a spirit that crosses generations – and was, in fact, JANE’s first spontaneous comment before ranking the gadgets themselves.

What humans want

This ranking reflects changing times in which the dynamic between users and tech providers will influence future gadgets. I suggest it is a good tension and that we should stay in it. What fits in our lives vs. fits the business agenda?

Maybe AI being new will stimulate all of us to consider which shapes we value, find cool and enduring. Plus which ones we never found cool. No matter our age. Turns out to be rather universal.

Technology changes. Human desire for easy to use, attractive shapes that upgrade our daily lives – practically and emotionally – remains constant.

NOTES
1. Pierce, D. Johnson, A. Song, V. Watch, headphones, phone: Which AI gadget is best? Vergecast. The Verge. July 13, 2026. The Verge lists Vergecast as its flagship technology podcast. I find it valuable to place evolving technology themes in the context of culture and daily life. With a 15-year history, the publication has outlived quite a few gadgets! 🙂

2. The return of Mom’s input, with her permission of course. Her first two appearances were made via video: JANE IRL and JANE IRL Spring Edition.