
The episode surveys a week of global economic turbulence, highlighting AI’s expanding role in the Australian job market, rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East, and mixed central‑bank signals across major economies. Dr. Blair Chapman notes a surge in AI‑specific job ads, signaling that AI fluency is becoming a baseline skill, while NAB analysts discuss how tighter Australian labour data support a potential RBA rate hike and how oil price volatility is tied to U.S. military actions. The conversation also covers US inflation easing, divergent monetary policy stances in New Zealand and Australia, and the looming impact of Meta’s algorithm testimony on tech stocks. Overall, the segment underscores the interplay between technology‑driven labour shifts, geopolitical shocks, and monetary policy in shaping market outlooks.

In this episode, Phil and NAB’s Ray Attrill dissect the widening gap between New Zealand and Australia as AI‑driven investment costs strain US markets and commodity prices slide, while the Aussie dollar weakens below 71 cents. They explore how rising AI spending,...