Generative AI: what is it good for?

From The Economist. Generative AI is the technology behind the wave of new online tools used by millions around the world. As the technology is ever more widely deployed, what are its current strengths and its weaknesses? 00:00 – What is generative AI? 00:46 – Breakthroughs and take-up of the technology 02:03 – Strengths 03:32…

Heatwaves: how hot can it get?

From The Economist. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense and more deadly. But what is a heatwave, why are they so dangerous and how are they affected by climate change? 00:00 – What are heatwaves? 01:40 – How do heatwaves form? 05:28 – How heatwaves kill 08:40 – How to prepare for heatwaves 10:17…

What’s the future of crypto?

From The Economist. The financial revolution once promised by cryptocurrencies has been knocked off course by regulators and allegations of fraud. So what does the future hold for crypto? Cypherpunk stills and Eric Hughes interview under creative commons licence: https://econ.st/3Iijagn 00:00 – The crypto party is over 01:06 – The history 03:30 – What is…

Turkey 2023: will the economy decide the election?

From The Economist. For the first time in his 20-year term, President Erdogan faces a run-off in Turkey’s presidential election. Our Turkey correspondent, Piotr Zalewski, explains why the economy might be a deciding factor on voters’ minds. 00:00 – Turkey’s run-off elections 00:49 – High stakes 01:26 – Tactics 02:31 – The price of victory…

What is the debt ceiling?

From The Economist. As America’s government hits the debt ceiling, US politics has become a multi-trillion dollar game of chicken. If neither side backs down, America could default on its debts for the first time in history, sparking global economic turmoil. What is the debt ceiling, and how can this crisis be resolved? Sign up…

Hurricanes: the science behind the destruction

From The Economist. Hurricanes are among the most dangerous natural phenomena on earth, causing billions of dollars of damage and destroying lives every year. But what turns a peaceful patch of ocean into the planet’s most destructive force, and how is this process being affected by climate change? 00:00 – What are tropical cyclones? 00:46…

What is the secret to songwriting?

From The Economist. With 25 Billboard Hot 100 number one hits to his name, Max Martin is effectively the king of pop music. We wanted to find the key to his success—with a little help from a lot of data. 00:00 – Behind the data 00:39 – Our dataset 01:53 – Was Max Martin right?…

Behind the data: the secret to songwriting

From The Economist. With 25 Billboard Hot 100 number one hits to his name, Max Martin is effectively the king of pop music. We wanted to find the key to his success—with a little help from a lot of data. 00:00 – Behind the data 00:39 – Our dataset 01:53 – Was Max Martin right?…

How to stop AI going rogue

From The Economist. Artificial intelligence is improving so fast that no one knows what it might be capable of. It brings huge opportunities, but also huge risks. Arjun Ramani, The Economist’s global business and economics correspondent, explains what could go wrong. 00:00 – How could AI go wrong? 01:12 – What are the risks? 03:11…

Why are wars getting longer?

From The Economist. The outbreak of violence in Sudan isn’t an anomaly; the world’s civil wars are growing longer and deadlier. Robert Guest, The Economist’s deputy editor, explains why. 00:00 – Civil wars are getting longer 00:58 – Complexity 02:14 – Criminality 03:12 – Climate change 04:52 – The road to peace? Sign up to…

How El Niño and La Niña cause extreme weather

From The Economist. El Niño and La Niña are opposite states of one of Earth’s most important climate processes, the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. It can lead to devastating weather events all over the world. But how does it work, what kinds of extreme weather does it cause and how is global warming…

Beyond Good Friday: the future of peace in Northern Ireland

From The Economist. Twenty five years ago the Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland. But while the treaty has saved thousands of lives, it has also resulted in a brittle and unstable government. Could this jeopardise the future of peace? 00:00 – The Good Friday Agreement then and now 02:49 – Northern Ireland’s…

Israel’s protests: why Bibi’s delay is an opportunity for Israel

From The Economist. Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has pressed pause on his power-grabbing judicial reforms. Now a strife-torn country has a chance to rethink. #israel #israelprotest 00:00 – Israel is in chaos 00:34 – Democracy is working in Israel 01:52 – Israel’s constitutional question 03:35 – The depth of division might undermine this opportunity…

Beyond ChatGPT: what chatbots mean for the future

From The Economist. With the arrival of generative AI chatbots, artificial intelligence no longer seems the preserve of science fiction. Now that the bots are talking back, what does it mean for the future of the internet—and our relationship with machines? #chatbot #chatgpt 00:00 – Chatbots are changing the internet 01:02 – How do chatbots…

Silicon Valley Bank: what really went wrong?

From The Economist. Since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, American regulators have pulled out all the stops to protect depositors. But the scramble to ensure stability has exposed serious flaws in America’s banking architecture. What comes next? 00:00 – Silicon Valley Bank has collapsed 00:38 – What has happened? 02:07 – How have regulators…

Is it worth having kids?

From The Economist. Fertility rates are falling across the rich world, as more and more people are weighing up whether to have children. Raising them can be stressful and cost a fortune, but they might bring you a lot of joy. So all things considered, on International Women’s Day, is it worth having kids? #childcare…

America’s $2trn green boost, explained

From The Economist. America is spending trillions of dollars in an effort to make the country stronger, greener and richer. These are the three key things you need to know about the plan and its chances of success. 00:00 – A new green America 00:30 – Democrats are being ambitious 01:14 – Manufacturing will move…

Why Nigeria is crucial to democracy in Africa

From The Economist. Nigeria’s youth are fighting for a better, cleaner government. What can this political awakening tell us about the state of democracy across Africa? 00:00 – Why Nigeria matters 01:06 – Nigeria’s security crisis 03:42 – How corruption threatens Nigeria’s democracy 05:26 – How young Nigerians are driving change 11:31 – Youth protests…

Climate-change migrants: what can be done?

From The Economist. Climate change could force hundreds of millions to flee their homes in the coming years. What can countries do to prepare for this mass migration? Film supported by @mishcondereya 00:00 – Climate migration is on the rise 01:06 – How Louisiana is relocating its flood-victims 03:55 – How ‘managed retreat’ can resolve…

Climate change: what is ocean acidification?

From The Economist. As carbon emissions change the chemistry of the seas, ocean acidification threatens marine life and human livelihoods. How worried should you be about climate change’s so-called “evil twin”? Film supported by @NipponFoundationPR 00:00 The other carbon problem 00:50 How does the ocean’s deepest point reveal its past? 02:55 Why are baby oysters…

The universe’s biggest mystery

From The Economist. Dark matter and dark energy dominate our universe. They’re both highly mysterious, invisible and difficult to detect. So what are they, and how do we know they even exist? 00:00 – What is the universe made of? 01:53 – What is dark matter? 05:32 – What is dark energy? 08:54 – The…

How to make poor areas richer

From The Economist. Many people in the rich world are feeling the pinch, particularly in its poorest regions. As the cost of living rises, how can such “left behind” areas be made richer? Film supported by @mishcondereya 00:00 – How can rich countries address regional inequality? 01:10 – How did regional inequality emerge? 04:45 –…