In short
Podcast Summary: Economist Podcasts - Boss Class Season 3 Trailer
Podcast Overview Title: Economist Podcasts Description: A global network of correspondents delivers insights on current affairs, business, finance, science, and technology every weekday.
Episode Overview Episode Title: Trailer: Boss Class Season 3 Release Date: January 29, 2026 Description: This season focuses on how AI is transforming work and the management landscape. The host, Andrew Palmer, explores this evolution and seeks to turn anxiety around AI into opportunities for effective management.
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Key Themes and Content
Introduction
- Host: Andrew Palmer, management columnist for The Economist.
- Objective: Challenge himself by experimenting with various AI tools to understand their practical utility for managers and employees.
Emotional Journey Palmer describes a range of emotions experienced during his exploration:
- Delight: Discovering useful AI tools that enhance productivity.
- Fear: Concerns about the implications and effectiveness of AI in the workplace.
- Annoyance: Mixed feelings towards AI personalities, particularly ChatGPT.
Main Topics of Exploration
- Discovering AI Tools
- Palmer interacts with AI to identify its practical applications in management.
- Focus on cutting through the hype surrounding AI technologies.
- Real-World Applications
- Examines how companies currently utilize AI, including:
- Customer service enhancements (e.g., AI in order processing).
- Business structure changes with AI as a collaborative tool (co-founders concept).
- Management Challenges
- Discussion on the necessity of resisting the lure of simplistic solutions ("the easy button").
- Acknowledges that AI may not always be the ideal replacement for human roles, stressing the importance of critical thinking and human oversight.
Key Takeaways
- AI as an Ally: Successful managers will be those who effectively incorporate AI into their strategies without over-reliance on it.
- Emotional Intelligence in Management: The journey emphasizes the need for balancing technological integration with human insight and adaptability.
Closing Remarks
- Palmer is committed to exploring the evolving relationship between managers and AI, aiming to prepare listeners for future workplace transformations.
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How to Access
- The full season will be available for subscribers on January 29, 2026.
- To subscribe or learn more about accessing the podcast, visit [Economist Podcasts+](https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus).
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Conclusion This podcast episode sets the stage for an insightful exploration of AI in the workplace, highlighting the emotional and practical aspects of technological adoption in management. It promises a thoughtful discussion about the future of work amid rapid technological advancements.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOExploring AI's Impact on Management
0:45 to 1:55
Discover Andrew's journey experimenting with AI tools for management.
“I'm afraid I already hate ChatGPT's persona.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01Hi, I'm Andrew Palmer, host of The Economist's work and management podcast, Boss Class. For our third season, I've been challenging myself to try new things. Hi, who is this? Who am I talking to? Hello, I'm Andrew Palmer, a senior writer at The Economist and the host of The Boss Class podcast. Hello, Andrew. This is totally weird. Talking to my own clone was just the start. I've been trying out every AI tool I can get my hands on. I want to cut out the hype to find out where AI is most useful to managers and employees right now. My journey has thrown up the whole gamut of emotion. Delight. I want an unfiltered reaction.
0:46Let's see if it actually works. Very cool. See? Even you can code. Even I can code. Fear. I'm terribly shaken by this. You know, what is the point? And a little annoyance, too. I'm afraid I already hate ChatGPT's persona. Right, oh, sorry, ChatGPT, I think you were listening. Absolutely, if you'd like to tweak it. God, that was embarrassing. Alongside my own attempts to make AI work for me, I'll explore how companies are already successfully using the technology. from serving customers Would you like to add extra cheese to your pizza? to building a business I basically looked at these AI agents and I said these are my co-founders and I'll find out what we should all be doing to prepare for the future I genuinely think like the people who are going to be the most successful in the coming years are the people who can resist just hitting the easy button and it's wrong it's wrong maybe 20 % of the time 30 % of the time but if you think it replaces your newcomers you're not just wrong, you're out of your mind.
From the publisher
AI is changing how we work. It's turning us all into managers. Be a good one.
The Economist’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, takes on the bots in the third season of Boss Class. From cloning to coding, agents to entry-level jobs, he tackles the threat head on and figures out how to turn anxiety into opportunity. Along the way he meets bulls and bears and the people who can help you to master management in the age of AI.
Full Season 3 out 29th January 2026.
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