The cost curve of AI: How efficiency is reshaping the AI race

From climate shocks, including the effects of El Niño, and rising labour costs to changing welfare standards and technological innovation, food prices may be entering a new structural regime. In this episode, Heidi Richardson and Sreedhar Mahamkali from UBS Research discuss the forces driving this shift, the potential role of technology as a counterbalance, and what a structurally higher food inflation environment could mean for consumers, businesses and markets. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

As organizations move beyond AI experimentation and focus on measurable returns, cost efficiency is becoming an increasingly important factor in deployment decisions. UBS Research's Caroline Li and Wei Xiong explore AI adoption trends, declining inference costs, and what China's AI ecosystem may reveal about the next phase of AI competition. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

What turns a sporting moment into long-term brand value? UBS analysts Jay Sole and Michael Lasser explore how consumer companies are tapping into fan passion, cultural moments and shifting participation trends to create lasting growth opportunities. From the business impact of major sporting events to the strategies brands use to stay relevant long after the final whistle, they unpack the forces shaping consumer engagement today.

Quantum computing has long promised to transform how we solve complex problems - but how close are we today? In this episode, Paul Winter, UBS Head of Quant Research, sits down with Professor Elena Ynduráin to explore where the technology stands, what “quantum advantage” really means, and how its convergence with AI could shape the future of innovation. While quantum computing is still primarily in testing phases today, the conversation highlights how advances in AI may help unlock its potential over time. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

After understanding what’s inside the battery, the next question is how it’s used. This episode shifts the focus to battery energy storage - where falling costs, policy support, and grid dynamics are combining to drive rapid deployment. UBS analysts Jon Windham and Tim Bush discuss why storage is becoming critical to energy systems and where the biggest opportunities are emerging. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

What really powers the electric vehicle (EV) revolution? Autos Analyst Patrick Hummel speaks with Sascha Vogelsang from automotive benchmarking and engineering firm A2MAC1. Together, they unpack the latest battery teardown - literally stripping EV batteries down to their core - to reveal the true costs, hidden innovations, and why “triple parity” could mark a tipping point for global EV adoption. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

Sunil Tirumalai, Head of Emerging Markets and Asia Equity Strategy, sits down with Lei Meng, China Equity Strategist, for a high-level introduction to China’s onshore A‑share market - and how it differs from offshore H‑shares. They break down why two equity markets exist, and why A‑shares have historically traded at a valuation premium versus H‑shares. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

Andrew Garthwaite, UBS Chief Global Equity Strategist, and Elroy Dimson, Professor of Finance at Cambridge Business School and co‑author of the UBS Global Investment Returns Yearbook, distil over 100 years of market history into the insights that matter most - and keep repeating. From how to think about market “bubbles”, to why diversification can surprise investors, and why staying invested has mattered so much over time. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

Equity research isn’t just spreadsheets and models. Paul Schneider speaks with Tommaso Aquilante and Jamie Dorricott from UBS’s Empirical Scientific Approaches team about how parameters, prompts, and the scientific method are changing what “good analysis” really looks like - and what skills aspiring analysts should focus on, in a machine‑assisted world. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).

As banks invest in AI capabilities, the focus is shifting from hype to delivery. This episode examines where AI is already improving operations, why trust remains banking’s core strength, and why execution will select the winners. With insights from Jason Napier, European Banks Analyst at UBS, and Paul Schneider, Head of Markets Focus. *(This information is subject to a disclaimer at the end of this podcast. Please ensure that you listen to the disclaimer and go to www.ubs.com for further information about UBS).