Volatile AI costs may spark efficiency rethink

Whiskey distiller Brown-Forman’s $30 bln tie-up talks point to a broader problem. Older drinkers are disappearing, and younger ones have different, more moderate tastes. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists discuss the leaner future for alcohol purveyors. Big Booze can sweat off its multi-year hangover Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spending by companies on software and models could hit $680 bln next year. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate whether AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic will benefit from new pricing or whether soaring costs will push CFOs to seek cheaper options. Breakingviews: Corporate AI sticker shock will force restraint Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his counterparts are reluctantly contemplating action to address a yawning €360 bln deficit with the People’s Republic. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists debate whether the continent can actually form a united front. Breakingviews: Merz wavering cripples EU’s tough China stand Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As once-vocal inflation hawk Kevin Warsh prepares for his first meeting as the central bank’s chair, prices are now rising at a sharp 4% rate. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists debate how he can square the obvious remedy with President Trump’s rate-cut demands. Breakingviews: Summer heat will make Warsh sweat Breakingviews: Vanishing Fed rate cuts could buy time for Warsh Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The $113 bln oil major is reeling after it parted company with the leader of its board, Albert Manifold. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the company’s governance missteps, and why the latest drama makes it vulnerable to a takeover. Breakingviews: BP chair requires low testosterone, iron backbone Breakingviews: BP permacrisis overshadows strategic success Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk’s rocket company is preparing for a stock market take-off. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate how the Tesla boss explains the stratospheric valuation, and why shareholders might be willing to forgo basic rights to get a slice of the action. Breakingviews SpaceX interactive calculator Breakingviews: SpaceX orbits an AI black hole The Big View: Separating science fiction from fact at SpaceX Breakingviews: SpaceX’s $1.75 trln hope rests on Musk imagination Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bumper returns promised by the $3.5 trln non-bank lending industry are giving way to rising defaults and falling income. In this week’s Viewsroom, Breakingviews columnists discuss how old-guard financiers juiced the trade with extra leverage, and the fresh dangers it poses. Breakingviews: Wall Street massages its private credit risk gauge Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The country’s $4 trln consumer-led economy is already seeing a slowdown in hiring and firms like Oracle are laying off staff. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain why India is so vulnerable and how the situation may play out elsewhere. Breakingviews: AI job shock risks throttling India’s consumption Breakingviews: India IT needs new model to code past AI crunch Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With UK 10-year debt yielding 5%, roughly the highest in over a decade, PM Keir Starmer may face brutal losses in local polls. He could then leave, or steer left. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the impact on the country’s budget policy and markets. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Iran conflict is showing no signs of ending with the price of crude teetering above $100 a barrel. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how the fallout from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will be felt acutely in Europe when the crunch arrives. Breakingviews: Oil market’s demand crunch is about to go global Breakingviews: Airline fuel cloud lacks 2022-style silver lining Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices