The AI digital divide

The AI digital divide

Author: Financial Times April 23, 2026 Duration: 12:02

Tesla’s profits rebounded from last year’s lows, Brent crude jumped back above $100 a barrel on Wednesday after Iran’s navy said it seized two commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and China’s new trade rules have concerned businesses operating in the country. Plus, the FT’s John Burn-Murdoch unpacks a survey that finds the highest-earning workers are adopting AI in their jobs far faster than others and Switzerland hit UBS with a proposed $20bn capital increase.


Mentioned in this podcast:

Tesla shares rally as profits rebound from last year’s lows

Trump’s ‘dirty ceasefire’ tested as Iran hits shipping

US allies in Gulf and Asia have requested swap lines, Scott Bessent says

China links tough new trade rules to Iran war and Panama port dispute

High earners race ahead on AI as workplace divide widens

Switzerland hits UBS with proposed $20bn capital increase

Credit: Reuters


Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 


Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Michael Lello. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Start your morning with the essential context for the day ahead. FT News Briefing, directly from the Financial Times newsroom, cuts through the noise to deliver a concise, authoritative overview of the global business and political developments that truly matter. Each episode is a focused, ten-minute digest designed for the time-pressed, offering clarity on complex market movements, geopolitical shifts, and economic policy decisions. You’ll hear the FT’s expert analysis woven into the reporting, providing not just the headlines but the underlying forces at play. This daily podcast serves as an efficient primer, whether you’re commuting or preparing for your first meeting, ensuring you’re informed on the stories that will define conversations in boardrooms and beyond. Released every weekday morning, it’s a reliable filter for the overwhelming flow of information, built on the FT’s legacy of rigorous journalism. Tune in to transform the way you catch up on world events, turning a few minutes into a strategic advantage for your day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

FT News Briefing
Podcast Episodes
Swamp Notes: Why Trump wants to ‘run’ other countries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:49
This is a repeat of an episode published on Swamp Notes, a sister podcast of the FT News Briefing on January 9, 2026. Subscribe to Swamp Notes on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen.After a military opera…
Iranians protest over economic pain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:42
Glencore and Rio Tinto resume mining megamerger talks, protests in Iran over economic conditions are the largest in years, and the US trade deficit narrowed to its lowest level since 2009. Plus, is there a right way for…
Venezuela’s crumbling oil infrastructure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:47
The US wants to control Venezuelan oil sales ‘indefinitely’ but the ‘catastrophic’ state of the Latin American nation’s crude facilities presents several hurdles. Plus, President Donald Trump banned institutional investo…
A wave of repression in Venezuela [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:52
Leading asset managers are positioning for a sharp sell-off in US technology stocks, Venezuela’s government has launched a crackdown after the US captured Nicolás Maduro, and the Trump administration is meeting with exec…
The investors eyeing Venezuela’s oil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to narco trafficking charges, and smaller private investors are eager to invest in Venezuelan oil. Plus, Chinese carmarkers are expected to increase exports t…
Trump plans to ‘run’ Venezuela. What now? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:52
US President Donald Trump has warned Venezuela’s defacto leader she must meet America’s demands following Nicolas Maduro’s capture. We explore what Trump hopes to achieve in the Latin American country, and the challenges…
Predicting 2026: Will Trump and Musk officially reunite? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:11
Europe’s banking industry could shed 10 per cent of its workforce by 2030. Plus, the FT’s US national editor and columnist Edward Luce predicted America’s president would not fall out with one-time “first buddy”, billion…
Predicting 2026: Will Ukraine finally get a peace deal? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:26
The FT’s Europe editor Ben Hall thought there would be a Ukraine peace deal in 2025. Despite lots of back and forth over ceasefire proposals, an agreement has yet to materialise. The negotiations reveal a lot about the r…