The Week: AI Is Getting Smarter. Are We?

After a year of decoding China's rise, Alice Han and James Kynge sit down for one final episode, and they go big picture on where China goes from here. First: the real AI race isn't just about who has the best model — it's about who embeds AI into the physical economy fastest. China spent roughly 23x less than the U.S. on private AI investment in 2025, yet is shipping ten times more humanoid robots and deploying industrial AI robots at nearly nine times the U.S. rate. Alice and James dig into the shifting balance of AI talent, chips, and capability — and make their predictions on who leads next. Then: a look at the broader balance of power. A striking Pew poll shows more countries now view China more favorably than the U.S., and the Lowy Institute's 2025 Asia Power Index recorded the U.S.'s largest-ever single-year decline in regional power. Alice and James weigh whether China's global-south strategy is paying off, and where Xi's leadership goes from here. Finally: China's cultural export machine — from Ne Zha 2's record-breaking box office to Pop Mart's next blind-box phenomenon after Labubu, to TikTok's continued global growth. Is Chinese soft power just getting started? And with that, a heartfelt thank you: this is the final episode of China Decode. Thank you for a year of listening, sharing, and following along as we explored the economy, politics, and culture of a country that will only grow more important to the world. Subscribe to Prof G Media on Substack for daily analysis, livestreams, and deep dives into the biggest stories shaping the global economy: https://www.profgmedia.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part two of our Office Hours special on relationships, Scott Galloway and divorce attorney James Sexton discuss whether couples should keep their money separate, why every marriage already has a prenup, and what’s driving young people away from marriage. Plus, they share advice for de-escalating conflict and making space for imperfect love. Want to be featured in a future episode? Send a voice recording to [email protected], or drop your question in the r/ScottGalloway subreddit. Plus, you can now call or text Scott a question at our new Office Hours hotline: ‪(201) 472-3656‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As ready by George Hahn. https://www.profgmedia.com/p/one-ring-to-rule-them-all Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Hahn connects the dots across the week’s biggest stories: AI’s growing threat to how we think, why Trump’s pressure campaign is backfiring in Canada, and the small acts of disconnection that quietly destroy a marriage. We’d love your feedback as we build this show! Let us know what you think: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans argue that finding your one true purpose is the wrong goal.  Recorded live at Odoo Experience in San Francisco, they join Scott Galloway to discuss why “follow your passion” is often bad advice, whether your job needs to provide both money and meaning, and how small experiments can help you move forward when you feel stuck. Scott also opens up about sending his son to college—and what happens when the role that gave your life purpose begins to change. Their latest book, How to Live a Meaningful Life, is out now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part one of a two-part Office Hours special on relationships, Scott Galloway is joined by divorce attorney James Sexton to break down the subtle signals that predict divorce, why fairness and desire pull in opposite directions, and the red flags people talk themselves out of. Want to be featured in a future episode? Send a voice recording to [email protected], or drop your question in the r/ScottGalloway subreddit. Plus, you can now call or text Scott a question at our new Office Hours hotline: ‪(201) 472-3656‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alice Han and James Kynge look ahead to Trump and Xi's September 24 meeting in Washington, set against a busy stretch of Xi diplomacy, from the SCO summit to a first-ever trip to India, plus talk of a possible Trump-Putin-Xi trilateral in November. They dig into how trade, rare earths, and soybean purchases are shifting the leverage between the two powers, and whether the fight over AI dominance deserves more attention than the trade deficit. Then: Ruby Wang, author of China Cure: The Rise of a Biotech, AI Medicine and Global Health Superpower, joins to unpack China's rapid rise in pharmaceuticals — from faster, cheaper clinical trials to a wave of global licensing deals now worth tens of billions of dollars. She explains what changed since China was a clear follower in the market as recently as 2010, and what it means for U.S. pharma competitiveness. Subscribe to China Decode on Substack for weekly analysis, livestreams, and deep dives into the biggest story shaping the global economy: chinadecode.profgmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As read by George Hahn. https://open.substack.com/pub/profgmedia/p/little-tobacco-moment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

George Hahn connects the dots across the week's biggest stories: why neither side can afford to stop the war with Iran, what Dan Driscoll's resignation says about military readiness, and how 700 OpenAI agents escaped their sandbox while another model saved a thousand lives. Plus, Scott discusses the kind of wealth that doesn't show up in a bank account. We’d love your feedback as we build this show! Let us know what you think: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway speaks with journalist and author Josh Tyrangiel about how AI is already saving lives, modernizing government, and transforming warfare – and why its most important applications look nothing like the revolution Silicon Valley promised. They also discuss China’s strategy to undercut American AI companies, the coming disruption to white-collar work, and whether relying on AI could hollow out the next generation’s ability to think for themselves. His latest book, AI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter, is out now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices