
Babbage from The Economist
Babbage is our weekly podcast on science and technology, named after Charles Babbage—a 19th-century polymath and grandfather of computing. Host Alok Jha talks to our correspondents about the innovations, discoveries and gadgetry shaping the world. Published every Wednesday.If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts
Latest episodes

Apr 30, 2025 • 2min
Trailer: Boss Class Season 2
Good bosses are rare. They don’t have to be. The skills of management can be learned.The Economist’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, is here to help. The second season of Boss Class features leaders at some of the world’s best performing companies, from Levi’s to Novo Nordisk to Google. New episodes are out weekly starting May 12th. To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plusIf you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Feb 5, 2025 • 4min
Trailer: Scam Inc
A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It already rivals the size of the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerful. The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong follows a trail that starts with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around human trafficking, corruption and money laundering. Can it be stopped?Available now.To listen to the full series subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.

May 29, 2024 • 5min
Trailer: The Modi Raj
Uncover the enigmatic rise of India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and his unique blend of economic reform and Hindu nationalist beliefs. Explore the controversies surrounding his leadership style and his vision for India's future as a global superpower.

21 snips
May 22, 2024 • 46min
AI and health part one: DrGPT will see you now
AI in healthcare is revolutionizing patient access and disease detection. From AI in breast cancer screening to radiology, the podcast explores its benefits and ethical implications. Chat GPT's role in medical research and the challenges of using AI in healthcare are also discussed. The podcast teases a future episode on changes in medical research and encourages listeners to subscribe.

6 snips
May 1, 2024 • 42min
Babbage: Teens and their screens
The podcast delves into concerns about teenagers' mental health due to smartphone and social media usage. Experts discuss the need for restrictions, social media literacy, and parental involvement. The debate around the impact of technology on young people's well-being is explored, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and promoting balanced screen time.

24 snips
Mar 6, 2024 • 43min
Babbage: The science that built the AI revolution—part one
The podcast explores the evolution of AI from early brain modeling to modern neural-inspired systems. It delves into the challenges of defining intelligence and the use of language models in machine learning. The progression of AI from perceptrons to deep neural networks is discussed, highlighting breakthroughs in the deep learning revolution.

Feb 21, 2024 • 44min
Babbage: The hunt for dark matter
Scientists are on the hunt for elusive dark matter, using cutting-edge tools and techniques to detect this mysterious substance. With no luck so far, they explore new ideas and technologies at a recent scientific meeting. Will they finally uncover the secrets of dark matter and its profound impact on the universe?

28 snips
Jan 24, 2024 • 45min
Babbage: Sam Altman and Satya Nadella on their vision for AI
Sam Altman and Satya Nadella discuss their vision for AI at the World Economic Forum in Davos. They address concerns about AI's impact on productivity and potential existential risks. They also explore the potential of AI in healthcare and education and discuss the seriousness and regulation of AGI. The importance of open source models and recommendations from The Economist are highlighted.

Dec 20, 2023 • 42min
Babbage: Science book club
Join Alok Jha and his guests as they discuss the significance of science books, including 'The Periodic Table' by Primo Levi and 'Madame Curie' by Ève Curie. They explore the blending of art and storytelling with science, the importance of collective knowledge, and the shift to a gene-centered view of evolution.

Nov 22, 2023 • 39min
Babbage: Fei-Fei Li on how to really think about the future of AI
Fei-Fei Li, pioneer in generative AI models, advocates for a human-centered approach to dealing with AI. She discusses the evolution of computer vision, the impact of generative AIs on society, concerns about bias and disinformation, and the potential sentience of AIs.