Economist Podcasts – Boss Class Season 3 (Trailer) Summary
Release Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Andrew Palmer
Episode Overview
This trailer introduces Season 3 of “Boss Class,” The Economist’s podcast on work and management, hosted by senior writer Andrew Palmer. The new season centers on demystifying artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. Palmer personally experiments with various AI tools, explores real-world company applications, and seeks practical, hype-free insights to empower managers and employees.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Host’s Personal AI Journey
- Experimenting with AI: Palmer details his proactive approach, using "every AI tool I can get my hands on" (00:16), underscoring his commitment to firsthand discovery.
- Conversing with His Own AI Clone:
- Asks, “Hi, who is this? Who am I talking to?” and responds to himself: “This is totally weird. Talking to my own clone was just the start.” (00:12-00:23)
- Seeking Substance over Hype: “I want to cut out the hype to find out where AI is most useful to managers and employees right now.” (00:23)
- Emotional Rollercoaster: His AI exploration evokes delight, surprise, fear, and annoyance, promising honest accounts.
2. The Range of Emotions with AI
- Delight and Surprise:
- [00:43] B (voice assistant): “I want an unfiltered reaction. Let’s see if it actually works.”
- Palmer: “Really cool. See, even you can code.” (00:47)
- Palmer (echoed): “Even I can code.” (00:52)
- Fear and Self-Doubt:
- B: “I’m terribly shaken by this. You know, what is. What is the point?” (00:56)
- Annoyance and Friction:
- B: “I already hate ChatGPT’s Persona. Right? Oh, sorry, ChatGPT. I think you were listening. Absolutely.” (01:05)
- Palmer: “If you'd like to tweak out.” (01:14)
- B: “God, that was embarrassing.” (01:15)
This playful banter underscores both the utility and quirks of modern AI.
3. Real-World AI Use Cases
- Customer Service Automation:
- Example: AI bots in food ordering—C: "Would you like to add extra cheese to your pizza?" (01:26)
- Entrepreneurship and Co-founders:
- C: "I basically looked at these AI agents and I said, these are my co-founders." (01:30)
- Advice for the Future:
- C: "I genuinely think like, the people who are going to be the most successful in the coming years are the people who can resist just hitting the easy button." (01:39)
- Caution on AI Dependence:
- Palmer reflects: "It's wrong maybe 20% of the time, 30% of the time, but if you think it'd be places you're newcomers, you're not just wrong, you're out of your mind." (01:46)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Andrew Palmer, on his motivation (00:23):
“I want to cut out the hype to find out where AI is most useful to managers and employees right now.”
- B, on AI shock (00:56):
“I’m terribly shaken by this. You know, what is. What is the point?”
- Annoyance with AI chatbots (01:05):
“I already hate ChatGPT’s Persona. Right? Oh, sorry, ChatGPT. I think you were listening. Absolutely.”
- On co-founding with AI (01:30):
“I basically looked at these AI agents and I said, these are my co-founders.”
- Insight on the future of skills (01:39):
“The people who are going to be the most successful in the coming years are the people who can resist just hitting the easy button.”
Key Timestamps
- 00:02 – Introduction from Andrew Palmer
- 00:16-00:23 – Experimenting with AI tools and talking to his own clone
- 00:43-00:56 – Palmer and simulated voice react in real time to AI, experiencing delight and fear
- 01:05-01:15 – Frustration, jokes, and awkwardness with AI personas
- 01:26-01:30 – Examples from the field (customer service bots, AI as co-founders)
- 01:39-01:46 – Reflections on AI’s limitations and required human skills
Tone & Style
The trailer maintains a witty, candid, and approachable tone as Palmer navigates the world of AI, blending self-deprecating humor, real experimentation, and journalistic curiosity.
Final Note
Season 3 of “Boss Class” promises a grounded, practical look at AI for business leaders, focusing on effective adoption, managing emotional and cultural impacts, and preparing for the future of work—exclusively for Economist subscribers.
