Economist Podcasts Economist Podcasts

Bots on the ground: China leads humanoid race

Aug 28, 2026 · 24m

Summary

This episode covers China’s humanoid robot industry, highlighting the challenges of training data and the rapid expansion of training centers despite current limitations. It also details Meta’s $17 billion settlement with US states over teen social media harms, analyzing the imposed usage restrictions and potential industry-wide impact. Finally, the show explores the enduring mystique of Paris’s Shakespeare and Company bookshop and its role in the independent bookstore revival.

Topics discussed

Sponsors: Wayfair and Amazon Ads Introduction to The Intelligence World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing Challenges in training humanoid robots Inside China's robot training centers Data collection methods and industry future Sponsors: Amazon Ads and Wayfair Promo: The Economist Insider Meta settles $17B lawsuit over teen harm Settlement terms: Fines and usage restrictions Impact on other social media companies Comparison to Big Tobacco settlement History and myths of Shakespeare and Company Why the bookshop remains popular Preview: The Ig Nobel Prizes Sponsors: Liquid I.V. and Ro
Listen ad-free on Castria