Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

 

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

 

(0:00) Has AI conquered coding?

(3:21) Lars Faye quote

(5:25) Skipping the struggle step

(6:42) Point #1

(7:08) Point #2

(7:28) Point #3

(7:39) Point #4

(8:35) Solution

 

Links:

Sign up for Cal’s newsletter at www.calnewport.com/ideas
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

https://larsfaye.com/articles/agentic-coding-is-a-trap

https://www.infoworld.com/article/4143101/pity-the-developers-who-resist-agentic-coding.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of us ask the question if phone addiction is similar to other addictions. In this episode, Cal is joined by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Lembke to explore this question. They dive deep into her book, Dopamine Nation, that captivated readers. 

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to [email protected]. 

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

(0:00) Am I addicted to my phone (w/ Anna Lembke)

(1:04:41) Digital minimalism and good uses for your phone

(1:14:31)  AI in academic publishing

(1:20:35) What I read

(1:24:10) What’s coming up

Books:

What to Make of a Life: Cliffs, Fog, Fire and the Self-Knowldge (Jim Collins)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow 

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ 

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

https://internetaddictsanonymous.org/guide-for-newcomers/

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

https://www.shopify.com/deep

https://www.monarch.com/deep (Use code “DEEP”)

https://www.expressvpn.com/deep

https://www.cozyearth.com/deep (Use code “DEEP” for 30% off)

Thanks to Jesse Miller for mastering and production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

 

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

 

(0:00) Is AI about to “eat everything”?

(2:53) What does the METR chart measure?

(8:08) What do these measurements actually capture?

(12:31-) How are the models getting better?

(21:26) Does this mean AI is about to “eat everything”?

(26:16) So, what’s with all of these hysterical tweets?

 

Links:

Buy Cal’s
latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

https://metr.org/time-horizons/

https://x.com/SydSteyerhart/status/2053082873847070911

https://x.com/AISafetyMemes/status/2053169358919328172

https://x.com/ramez/status/2041946766598402459?s=61

 

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Nate Mechler for research and newsletter, and Jay Kerstens for theme music.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new research study reveals that a surprisingly simple intervention into your digital life can yield massive benefits in only two weeks. In this episode, Cal takes a deep dive into this paper, detailing: the intervention, why it works, and tips for increasing your chances of success.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

 

Video from today’s episode: 
youtube.com/calnewportmedia

 

(0:00) Do I need a digital intervention?

(27:06) AI and academic research

(33:56) Reversing brain rot with cognitive fitness

(37:08) Leaving your phone in the kitchen

(40:07) What Cal is reading

 

Books:

 

How Society Should Deal with Inequality (Frank Newport)

 

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at
https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: 

bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/2/pgaf017/8016017

https://orgsci.substack.com/p/more-versus-better-part-i

 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is sponsored by Better Help:

https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions

https://www.larridin.com

https://www.calderalab.com/deep

 

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

(0:00) Is the AI doom fever breaking?

(4:30) Have the AI CEOs changed their tuen?

(7:23) Why did they change?

(11:21) Why did they ever think this was a good idea?

(24:26) Conclusion

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFnoQkYUqgU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWxHOrn8-rs

https://x.com/sama/status/2050229058425045178

https://fortune.com/2026/05/02/jensen-huang-nvdia-ceo-god-complex-ai-apocalypse-warnings-shortages-critical-jobs/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kpb8eu1pEY

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/opinion/ai-jobs-unemployment-silicon-valley.html

https://nickbostrom.com/existential/risks.pdf

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices