Bots on the ground: China leads humanoid race

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<p>Our correspondent goes inside a <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/08/23/china-is-training-up-thousands-of-humanoid-robots?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chinese robot</a> facility to see thousands of droids being taught to complete useful tasks. Is it worth the time and money? How <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/08/26/meta-settles-its-blockbuster-trial-for-up-to-17bn?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Meta</a>’s $17bn settlement at its blockbuster trial could change teen social-media use. And 75 years of the Paris bookshop <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/culture/2026/08/27/what-the-world-most-famous-bookshop-reveals-about-culture?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shakespeare and Company</a>.</p><br><p>Watch extended clips from Insider <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>, plus the full Elon Musk interview</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Don Weinland, China business editor</li><li>Alice Fulwood, “Money Talks” host and US business editor</li><li>Alexandra Suich-Bass, culture editor</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Robots, humanoids, China, AI</li><li>Meta, Instagram, Facebook, social media, addiction, </li><li>Shakespeare and Company, Paris, bookshops</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribe to The Economist</em></a><em>.</em></p><br><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>