Honey, we shrunk the kids: population fall

The Intelligence podcast from The Economist examines pressing global issues. The first segment explores the implications of a shrinking global population, challenging conventional economic concerns about debt, elder care, and innovation, suggesting that adjustments and a shift in focus towards the needs of an aging population are more likely outcomes than economic disaster. The second segment delves into the debate around bias in AI language models, particularly the perception of "wokeness," and the efforts by governments to control ideological neutrality in AI. Finally, the podcast discusses the decline in reading habits and literacy, its potential impact on critical thinking and social mobility, and the broader cultural shift away from reading.