The rise of AI washing

And more of today’s best articles from The Week

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February 9, 2026

TODAY’S BIG QUESTION

Is the US in a hiring recession?

The economy is growing. Job openings are not.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHt

Vietnam’s ‘balancing act’ with the US, China and Europe

Despite decades of ‘steadily improving relations’, Hanoi is still ‘deeply suspicious’ of the US as it tries to ‘diversify’ its options

quote of the day

‘I’m not in a room because of a social experiment. I’m in the room because I belong there and the room was incomplete until I got there.’

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), on CNN’s “State of the Union,” after being left out of an annual White House event with the National Governors Association. The U.S.’s only Black governor found the slight “particularly painful” since he’s the association’s vice chair.

the explainer

Companies are increasingly AI washing

Imaginary technology is taking jobs

UNDER THE RADAR

As temperatures rise, US incomes fall

Elevated temperatures are capable of affecting the entire economy

Lost Phone? Protect Your Identity

A lost phone could lead to financial issues or stolen identity (or both). Take these steps to protect yourself.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Colorful statement

Bad Bunny holds the Puerto Rican flag with light blue — the original 1895 design representative of the island’s independence movement — during his Super Bowl halftime show. The performance was viewed by an estimated 135 million people, according to preliminary counts, making it the most-watched performance in the game’s history.
Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images