AI Apps Are Coming to Your PC

Welcome to the latest edition of your weekly guide to the essential apps, gear, and entertainment. This week, we’re focusing on a significant shift: powerful AI applications are moving directly onto personal computers, offering new capabilities without constant cloud reliance. Alongside this trend, we have fresh hardware to consider, compelling new shows, and a community-driven list of what you’re all enjoying right now.

I also want to remind you about our upcoming showcase. We’re dedicating a future edition to your projects, so please send me what you’ve been making, building, or creating. The response so far has been incredible, so keep those submissions coming to installer@theverge.com. Now, let’s explore this week’s highlights.

First, let’s look at the new tools and entertainment worth your attention. OpenAI Codex represents a major step toward an all-in-one AI superapp for the desktop, integrating a browser, coding assistants, and even a mode that can operate your computer. It’s powerful, so proceed with awareness, but early feedback is notably positive.

For Mac users, Gemini for Mac has arrived. While its default setup, which commandeers a common keyboard shortcut and sets itself as a login item, is frustrating, the app itself is transformative. It is currently the most seamless method to interact with Google’s AI, Google Drive, and Google Photos directly from your desktop.

On the entertainment front, the second season of Beef is a welcome return. This critically acclaimed series doesn’t get enough mainstream discussion, and while anthology formats can be risky, this new chapter provides a perfect excuse to revisit the brilliant first season. For documentary fans, Lorne promises an unprecedented look behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live and its enigmatic producer, Lorne Michaels.

In the world of hardware, two new action cameras are generating buzz. The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 boasts meaningful upgrades like more controls, superior slow-motion, and increased storage, though its imminent unavailability in the U. S. is disappointing. Meanwhile, GoPro is generating excitement with the upcoming GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS, which features a revolutionary interchangeable lens system. This innovation could fundamentally expand what creators do with the platform.

For a thoughtful perspective on technology, I reached out to Maria Popova, the curator behind The Marginalian. Her new book, Traversal, explores how we perceive the world. Her digital life is intentionally minimal. She uses an iPhone 16 with a custom text-based layout and relies heavily on Evernote, which she describes as a personal “Alexandria” of meticulously organized information that manages her life.

Now, let’s see what the insightful Installer community is recommending this week. Ian praises the OhSnap Mcon mobile controller, noting it works perfectly with emulators like Delta for classic games. Rich highlights Plain Text Sports as a fast, clutter-free way to follow baseball. Olof is engrossed in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s novel Service Model, calling it a humorous and existential take on technology that feels perfectly suited for our readers.

Several of you are finding gems on YouTube, from amazing short films like Aborted to Jon Bois’s uniquely informative documentary series. Iris, a recent Mac convert, recommends two utility apps: Alcove, which adds useful volume indicators to the screen notch, and TinyStart, a faster alternative to Spotlight search. Finally, Aaron gives a strong endorsement for the third season of Shrinking on Apple TV+, applauding its powerful writing and ensemble cast.

To close, I’ll share a small personal victory in the realm of snacking. In a quest to make guilty pleasures slightly less guilty, I’ve discovered YumEarth’s candy variety packs. They offer the familiar taste of classics like Skittles and Sour Patch Kids but are made with more natural ingredients and contain less sugar. They’re a solid compromise for when a treat is necessary. I’m off to enjoy some right now. Until next week