News Of The Week: May 12th 2026

Hello and welcome to the Fourth Wheel’s weekly news bulletin, which this week has been negatively impacted by downward productivity trends brought on by a surplus of deadlines and a shortfall in useable employee-hours. I’m sorry, I seem to have swallowed a corporate report. I’ve been too damn busy, is what I’m saying, and this week’s podcast is brief as a result. What I have found time for, because how could I not, is the now-confirmed but as yet unseen collaboration between Audemars Piguet and Swatch. Well done all who’ve seen it for not leaking - although as I mention on the episode, in the age of generative AI it almost doesn’t matter. I have a few thoughts, predictions and laments on this subject; I suspect next week I’ll have to talk about it again but after that maybe we will move on. There is a tenuous parallel with the Baltic x SpaceOne, which has been unfortunately overshadowed by a watch that hasn’t even been seen yet, but you’ll have to listen to find out where I’m going with this particular thought. Elsewhere I feel compelled to give the briefest of mentions to Ming’s ‘Peep Show’, and have an oh-so-predictable update on the Swatch Group AGM which took place today. Links discussed in today’s episode:* AP x Swatch is confirmed* Baltic x SpaceOne is terrific* Ming is hitting the mark again* Swatch Group’s board is entirely predictableThanks for listening. I’ll see you back here next time for more. Chris Get full access to The Fourth Wheel at www.thefourthwheel.co.uk/subscribe