From the BBC World Service: India is hosting an AI summit as part of the country's efforts to showcase itself as a major player in the artificial intelligence space and a leader in the Global South. It's aiming to be an emerging market where AI is not just going to be consumed, but where it's going to be created, built, and exported. Plus, restaurant owners are starting to take action on what they call "entitled" behavior by food influencers.

A major fight is brewing over who has the right to regulate prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. In a brief in a Nevada court case, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission argued it should regulate prediction markets, but states say the platforms should follow state gambling laws. Later in the episode, we unpack departure plans for the European Central Bank's president and hear why geopolitics are making Sweden rethink its decision to not adopt the euro.

Though most companies are incorporating generative AI into their workflows, it doesn’t seem to be boosting output just yet. A survey of almost 6,000 companies found that AI hasn’t made waves in productivity or employment for most. Plus, we hear why fewer students are enrolling in computer science classes and majors. And later in the program, tariff-induced price uncertainty is hitting one Portland-based construction firm hard.

From the BBC World Service: Japan’s export figures were the strongest in three years, climbing 16.8% year over year in January. The data sharply beat market expectations. Plus, the German drugs giant Bayer is offering to pay more than $10 billion to settle claims over the weedkiller Roundup. And, European commercial flights have resumed to Venezuela for the first time since the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro.

Inflation is gradually moderating. For some consumer goods, like gasoline, prices are outright declining. Gas prices are down 7.5% since last January, according to AAA. The reason has to do with basic economic principles. Also on the program: We discuss a nicely balanced economy (for now) and — from "Building Tomorrow," a collaboration by Marketplace and This Old House Radio Hour — hear about a clear, step-by-step "almost paint-by-numbers" approach to address the housing affordability crisis.

Regulators tightened banking rules after the Great Recession. At a conference yesterday, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michelle Bowman said the Fed is looking into easing rules for banks in hopes that this may mean more mortgage loans. But it also means banks may be more vulnerable to the next financial crisis. So why now? Plus, we take you on a tour of some of the physical infrastructure powering the AI boom.

From the BBC World Service: It's the start of the Lunar New Year — a major retail event. In China, AI has increasingly been merging with the shopping experience, and companies have poured billions of dollars into competing for customers over the next couple of days. Then, France and India are poised to sign a major deal for India to buy over 100 French-made Rafale jet fighters worth $35 billion. And, Cuba's world-famous cigar festival has been cancelled due to fuel shortages.

Markets seesawed over the past few weeks over fears that artificial intelligence will soon disrupt several industries, including software and financial services. As large language models reshape how brands reach consumers, traditional ad shops could also face pressure to reinvent themselves or get left behind. We'll dig in. But first, inflation cooled this winter, but will it warm up in the spring? We'll discuss how tariffs and energy costs could play a role.

We learned on Friday that inflation dropped to 2.4% — the lowest it’s been in almost five years. But certain prices are still rising much faster than that overall measure, including utilities. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects that people will have to spend over $1,000, on average, to heat their homes this winter. Plus, the IRS lost more than 25% of its staff to cuts. Is it ready for this tax season?

From the BBC World Service: The Chinese tech company ByteDance says it'll curb its AI video app, Seedance, which is being used to create viral life-like clips of Hollywood stars; Disney and other entertainment giants have threatened legal action over it. Then, the UK government says it will review its regulation of AI to better protect children online. And later, Starbucks is hoping AI will help turn around the company's fortunes.