The Intelligence from The Economist

A look at progress in generative AI shows that OpenAI’s latest, greatest model [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/08/08/openais-latest-step-towards-advanced-artificial-intelligence?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] sits on a neat curve of growing utility over time. But what other firms are on that curve, and where is it taking humanity? After a long, wary time, Japanese savers are getting into investing—with gusto [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/07/10/japan-has-been-hit-by-investing-fever?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. And what goofy, small-time wrestling leagues [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/07/30/what-pro-wrestlers-in-chicago-say-about-america?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] reveal about today’s America. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

What is on the table for the meeting in Alaska [https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/08/09/instead-of-sanctions-donald-trump-announces-a-summit-with-russia?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]? What are the red lines? What chance Ukraine would accept what is agreed, especially if its president is not even in the room? Many world cities would like to become the Detroit of electric vehicles; our correspondent visits China’s contenders [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/07/24/where-will-be-the-detroit-of-electric-vehicles?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. And treatments improve for even the worst cases of allergies [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/07/25/can-you-overcome-an-allergy?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners].  Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

We take an expansive look at how much the Israeli justice system is holding its war machine to account. The results are so far unpromising [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/08/07/why-israel-must-hold-itself-to-account?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. The idea, popular on social media, of “job-hopping” to ratchet up pay is looking ever less wise [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/07/22/want-higher-pay-stay-in-your-job?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. And a look back on the life of Father Patrick Ryan [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2025/08/07/fr-patrick-ryan-the-devils-disciple-improved-ira-bomb-making?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners], unrepentant improver of the IRA’s bombs. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

As yet another tranche of Donald Trump’s tariffs takes effect, we look at why the duties might outlast him—and how American consumers will ultimately shoulder [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/08/01/donald-trump-thinks-hes-winning-on-trade-but-america-will-lose?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] the trade war’s costs. Our correspondent visits US Space Command, which is preparing for a new age of combat [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/07/27/us-space-command-is-preparing-for-satellite-on-satellite-combat?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] in the heavens. And Gen Z’s obsession with big, personalised water bottles [https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/07/14/water-bottles-the-accessory-gen-z-is-thirsting-after?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

The country had been on the rise: beating back jihadists, strengthening its federal structure and gaining international stature. That has all reversed [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/07/24/somalias-state-building-project-is-in-tatters?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. In Britain levels of crime have fallen—but the changing nature of criminality has meant a smaller fraction of crooks getting caught [https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/07/24/why-britains-police-hardly-solve-any-crimes?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. And 80 years on to the day our Archive 1945 [https://www.economist.com/interactive/archive-1945?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] project revisits the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.