Bot the difference: AI’s absence in economic data

About this episode

<p>For all the promise of transformation that artificial intelligence offers, a close look at macroeconomic data shows <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/02/22/the-ai-productivity-boom-is-not-here-yet?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">little change</a>. Sit tight. A brutal attack in Nigeria reveals how the security crisis is <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/02/12/a-deadly-attack-shows-nigerias-security-crisis-is-worsening?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spreading ominously</a>. And a tribute to <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/02/12/virginia-oliver-worked-maines-waters-for-nearly-a-century?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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virginia Oliver</a>, who cut an unusual figure on the lobster boat she skippered for decades.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Alex Domash, economics correspondent</li><li>Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent</li><li>Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Artificial intelligence, macroeconomics</li><li>Nigeria, security, jihadism</li><li>Virginia Oliver, Maine, lobsters</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Get a world of insights by </em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribing to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>