Taking Stock: Can Big Tech rivals be trusted to develop safe AI?

Taking Stock: Can Big Tech rivals be trusted to develop safe AI?

Author: BBC World Service September 17, 2026 Duration: 23:27

AI: Existential threat or billion-dollar opportunity? The increasingly loud and often stark warnings from inside the tech industry - about the dangers AI might already be posing.

Plus we dig into the interest rate rises facing US and European consumers. And ask whether an ABBA singalong of Mamma Mia was enough to swing the Swedish election.

Taking Stock looks back at the week in business, economic and geopolitical news with a panel that stretches across timezones. This week Rema Rahman the White House and Politics Editor from Bloomberg Government joins us from Washington DC and Katrine Kielos, author and columnist for Swedish financial broadcaster EFN, is with us in London.

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin


Behind the headlines and market numbers, there’s a human story. Business Daily from the BBC World Service digs into those stories, exploring how the forces of money and work shape lives and communities across the globe. This isn't just a recap of financial news; it’s about the tangible impact of economic decisions, from a factory floor in Vietnam to a tech startup in Nairobi. Each episode focuses on a single, compelling narrative, offering a clear and thorough examination of how business and economics function in the real world. You’ll hear directly from the people involved-entrepreneurs facing unexpected hurdles, workers adapting to new industries, and analysts deciphering local trends with global consequences. The reporting is grounded and precise, reflecting the BBC’s commitment to depth and clarity. By focusing on the daily drama inherent in our economic systems, this podcast makes the vast subject of business feel immediate and personal. Tune in for a thoughtful perspective that connects economic concepts to everyday reality, providing a deeper understanding of the world through the lens of commerce and labor.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Business Daily
Podcast Episodes
Taking Stock: Is everything about to get more expensive? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:11
There has been a lot of talk about rising bond yields, from Japan to the UK and the US, and alongside this government debt is growing all around the world. That all plays into a feeling that many people have that life is…
Follow the money: How China gained the competitive edge in EVs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:47
Think of an electric vehicle, and you'll probably imagine a Tesla. But China is the world's biggest EV exporter, despite being largely shut out of the US market. How has the country seemingly come from nowhere to dominat…
Is Turkey's clothing industry unravelling at the seams? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:29
Emily Wither reports from Istanbul finding out why that 'Made in Turkey' label in so much of our clothing could disappear as the industry faces competition from countries like Egypt, Turkey battles huge inflation and hun…
Taking Stock: Is this really the Golden Age of AI? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:10
This week on Taking Stock, Rahul Tandon is joined by journalist Nga Pham in Hanoi, Vietnam, and economist Justin Wolfers in Michigan, USA, to unpack Nvidia’s soaring quarterly results and what they signal about the globa…
Follow the money: What a dry Danube means for Europe’s energy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:00
Europe's drought has reduced water levels on the Danube, causing headaches and lost income for companies generating electricity from hydro, coal-fired and nuclear power plants. We travel down the river, stopping off in A…
Are Europe and China heading for a trade war? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:25
Europe is taking an increasingly tough line on trade with China, accusing Beijing of subsidising exports and flooding European markets with cheap goods. Businesses and governments warn that Chinese competition is putting…