Planet Money : NPR

Key Points:

• Michael Woodford, co-winner of the economics Nobel Prize, celebrated his award by returning to proctor an exam, highlighting his dedication to teaching despite the prestigious recognition.
• AI startup Character.ai, which gained rapid popularity and 28 million monthly users, is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a "reverse acquihire" by Google, where Google hired the founders and licensed technology but left the company behind.
• Character.ai's struggles were compounded by costly litigation over harm to minors and copyright issues, forcing a shift in business model and making it difficult to monetize its user base despite having significant funds.
• President Trump signed a controversial deal to import diesel fuel from Russia aiming to lower U.S. fuel prices, but bipartisan senators criticize it for potentially funding Russia’s war efforts and doubt it will significantly reduce prices.
• Experts note the diesel deal’s impact on prices is minimal, around $1-$2 per barrel on a $200 barrel price, and question the availability of Russian diesel exports due to refinery damage and Russia’s own diesel shortages.