Josh Spencer

As AI companions become ubiquitous and useful in making choices for their human overlords, what will become of human agency? My piece in this week's @TheEconomist looks at a booming new industry economist.com/international/…

“Are people outsourcing their emotional support and decisions to machines?” On “The Intelligence” @_joshjs explores the rise of AI companions bit.ly/3JVVanp

@TheEconomist With thanks to @rosenthal_jon for the commission and edit. Read his excellent Briefing on the rich world’s great relationship recession economist.com/briefing/2025/…

As AI companions become ubiquitous and useful in making choices for their human overlords, what will become of human agency? My piece in this week's @TheEconomist looks at a booming new industry economist.com/international/…

The idea of humans forming bonds with AI personas once seemed like science fiction. No longer. Around the world people are finding companionship, of varying degrees, with AIs. Some use them as a virtual buddy, others as a mentor, therapist or lover. A brief 🧵1/

The Kremlin dominates the cross-border business of nuclear fuel and technology economist.com/international/…

The fall of Saigon in 1975 triggered one of the world’s biggest diasporas. Fifty years on, Vietnamese emigrants and their children are returning to their homeland econ.st/4dFKGDi Photo: Hannah Reyes Morales/New York Times/Redux /Eyevine

Many Vietnamese emigrants are returning home to connect with their roots. It is not always an easy transition econ.st/4jh9Mcy

Our cover leader argues that To Lam, the Communist Party’s boss, has to rescue Asia’s great success story. Thankfully, he has an acute sense of his country’s challenges economist.com/leaders/2025/0…

@ConnellyAL covers Vietnam’s diplomatic balancing act. Squeezed between America and China, it is looking for new friends economist.com/briefing/2025/…

Fifty years ago, tens of thousands fled Vietnam as the war ended. In the years since many have returned. Now their children are coming back, too. For @TheEconomist I wrote about how these returnees are shaping Vietnam’s development economist.com/asia/2025/05/2…

Feuding dynasties, hit men, impeachment—and geopolitical tension. Just another day in Filipino politics, @_joshjs tells “The Intelligence” econ.st/4jN4czQ

With thanks to @newshound16, reporting with me in Manila

The Dutertes came out on top in the Philippines’ midterms—a proxy battle between powerful political dynasties. I reported on their bitter feud with the Marcos's for today’s episode of The Intelligence economist.com/podcasts/2025/…

Fifty years ago the fall of Saigon ended the war in Vietnam and created a huge diaspora. On “The Intelligence” @_joshjs finds out what happened to them econ.st/3ExJZ1L

Also, on today’s episode of The Intelligence, I spoke with the returning Vietnamese diaspora. Many have come back to Vietnam in the years since they—or their parents—fled in 1975 shows.acast.com/theintelligenc…

This isn’t the first time America’s credibility as an ally has been questioned. 50 years ago today Saigon fell, the Vietnam war ended and American pride took a big hit. My piece looks at The Economist’s coverage from April 1975 economist.com/interactive/as…

Fifty years ago this month, amid chaotic scenes, America pulled its remaining citizens out of South Vietnam, abandoning an ally and a war that it had once defined as essential to its interests. How did this shape America’s views on foreign conflicts? econ.st/4lPXYR1

This is not the first time that America’s credibility as an ally has been questioned. A good look back by @_joshjs at our coverage of the fall of Saigon 50 years ago today, now in front of the paywall. Much of it will sound familiar. economist.com/interactive/as…

Fifty years ago, Saigon fell and the Vietnam war ended. America's chaotic evacuation raised big doubts about its credibility, The Economist wrote at the time. Sound familiar? My piece this week economist.com/interactive/as…