Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos and guest host Hannah Erin Lang discuss the Federal Reserve's recent rate cut and whether further easing is expected in 2026. They get into the upcoming CPI report, which is expected to show stubborn inflation, and how that could pressure consumer stocks like Nike and General Mills. The hosts also look at the busy slate of global central bank decisions from the EU, the U.K., and Japan — highlighting how a potential rate hike from the Bank of Japan could impact the U.S. dollar. They also discuss whether the latest jobs report reveals the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market?
After the break, Telis is joined by Ajay Rajadhyaksha, global chairman of research at Barclays, to explore the relationship between AI and the economy. Rajadhyaksha explains why he doesn’t see AI causing net job losses yet, but rather a slowdown in new hiring and wage pressure. He argues that the huge amount of AI spending is keeping the economy growing right now. However, he warns that if the AI investment falters, there could be consequences for the U.S. economy. Finally, Ajay offers his take on why investors should look to markets like Japan and Korea for AI opportunities.
Chapters:
0:00 Cold open
0:44 The Fed's cut and inflation outlook
2:24 Upcoming CPI report and tariff concerns
4:32 Global central bank decisions ahead
5:45 The jobs report and AI anxiety
7:39 What Ajay Rajadhyaksha expects in the upcoming job reports
8:55 How AI affects wages and hiring
10:05 AI spending driving the U.S. economy
13:45 Private AI companies need to show revenue
15:45 The K-shaped recovery and inequality
17:54 Global opportunities in Japan and Korea
21:00 What the consumer needs in 2026
This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.
Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.
#WSJ #AI #Barclays
In this week's episode of WSJ’s Take On the Week, co-host Telis Demos and guest host Hannah Erin Lang discuss the Federal Reserve's recent rate cut and whether further easing is expected in 2026. They get into the upcoming CPI report, which is expected to show stubborn inflation, and how that could pressure consumer stocks like Nike and General Mills. The hosts also look at the busy slate of global central bank decisions from the EU, the U.K., and Japan — highlighting how a potential rate hike from the Bank of Japan could impact the U.S. dollar. They also discuss whether the latest jobs report reveals the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market?
After the break, Telis is joined by Ajay Rajadhyaksha, global chairman of research at Barclays, to explore the relationship between AI and the economy. Rajadhyaksha explains why he doesn’t see AI causing net job losses yet, but rather a slowdown in new hiring and wage pressure. He argues that the huge amount of AI spending is keeping the economy growing right now. However, he warns that if the AI investment falters, there could be consequences for the U.S. economy. Finally, Ajay offers his take on why investors should look to markets like Japan and Korea for AI opportunities.
Chapters:
0:00 Cold open
0:44 The Fed's cut and inflation outlook
2:24 Upcoming CPI report and tariff concerns
4:32 Global central bank decisions ahead
5:45 The jobs report and AI anxiety
7:39 What Ajay Rajadhyaksha expects in the upcoming job reports
8:55 How AI affects wages and hiring
10:05 AI spending driving the U.S. economy
13:45 Private AI companies need to show revenue
15:45 The K-shaped recovery and inequality
17:54 Global opportunities in Japan and Korea
21:00 What the consumer needs in 2026
This is WSJ’s Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street’s banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead.
Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We’d love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com.
#WSJ #AI #Barclays
