Soaring natural gas demand has driven dealmaking to a decade high, while the consulting industry faces an AI showdown with its own clients. Meanwhile, the Taliban seeks a minerals deal with the US under the new administration, and Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after a transformative tenure. Roula Khalaf’s weekly FT digest also covers the rise of physical AI in US manufacturing and controversial Venezuelan executive activity following Trump's oil policies.

The podcast examines whether robots can revitalize American production as political and technological shifts reshape global markets.