logo
episode-header-image
Apr 21
25m 20s

Agentic AI anxiety

MARKETPLACE
About this episode

Haven’t you always wished for robots to do menial labor? That’s sort of what agentic artificial intelligence is — rather than existing solely in a chat box, the technology can excecute complex tasks. These “helpers” have spurred a rat race in certain tech circles: With the help of personalized AI agents, just how productive can you be? Also in this episode: The U.S. dollar drags, budget airlines seek relief from high jet fuel prices, and consumers use credit to keep up with daily expenses.


Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.


Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Up next
Yesterday
Boeing bounces back
Boeing posted strong Q1 earnings Wednesday, and executives breathed a sigh of relief. The aircraft manufacturer survived several years of significant tumult, which included labor disputes, plane malfunctions, a production backlog, and shifting FAA restrictions. In this episode, h ... Show More
25m 20s
Apr 20
Diesel prices fuel uncertainty for small businesses
Rising gas prices, stemming from President Trump’s war against Iran, have frustrated drivers all spring. But diesel prices are up too, and diesel is the real engine of our economy. In this episode, small business owners face higher costs and uncertainty as diesel prices climb. Pl ... Show More
25m 13s
Apr 17
QVC wants to be the next TikTok Shop
QVC, which pioneered live TV shopping shows, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. Leadership made the next step clear: a pivot away from television and toward something akin to social commerce, like livestreamed sales on TikTok Shop. But can the legacy brand compete with ne ... Show More
25m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Some of America's Most Important Economic Data Is Decaying
Gathering official economic data is a huge process in the best of times. But a bunch of different things have now combined to make that process even harder. People aren't responding to surveys like they used to. Survey responses have also become a lot more divided along political ... Show More
47m 23s
Nov 2025
Wall Street Gains on Optimism US Will Soon Reopen
Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Wall Street’s bets that the largest shutdown in US history is soon coming to an end drove a rebound in stocks, spurring optimism that access to official economic data will shed light on the Federal Reserve outlo ... Show More
36m 11s
Sep 2025
Business Rundown: Is the Job Market Really as Bleak as the Fed Thinks?
When announcing interest rate cuts earlier this month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expressed concerns about the labor market, following major downward revisions to job growth data. But is the US Employment picture as bleak as the Fed sees it? Markets get a clearer view on ... Show More
20m 25s
Oct 2025
What’s up with the US economy? With Austan Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a voter on the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee, speaks to the FT’s economics commentator Chris Giles about the outlook for the US economy amid a boom in AI investment, sluggish hiring, President Donald Tr ... Show More
24m 57s
Aug 2024
Sentiment improves after drop in US jobless claims
Send us Fan MailUS dollar gains as data ease further recession concerns. Aussie benefits the most, also helped by RBA’s Bullock. Wall Street rebounds, oil and gold gain as well.Risk Warning: Our services involve a significant risk and can result in the loss of your invested capit ... Show More
3m 36s
Dec 2024
Market-Moving US Economic Data Is Under Threat
From inflation data to unemployment rates, the US government releases numbers every month that move markets and shape policies. But the agencies responsible for gathering that data are struggling — and President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to find cuts across agencies could furt ... Show More
13m 55s
Mar 2025
What's Going On With the Economy?
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump said he wasn’t going to rule out a recession in the U.S.'s future. WSJ's Ashby Jones explains the cracks starting to appear in the economy and Brian Schwartz reports on how the White House is managing those cracks. See The Journal live! ... Show More
20m 31s