Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?
In recent years, it’s been hard not to react to the possibilities of generative AI without a mixture of euphoria or dread. But after OpenAI’s lackluster GPT-5 launch, a new, almost heretical-seeming question has emerged: what if progress on AI is stalled well short of the wild predictions we were promised? In today’s episode, Cal draws from reporting on his recent New Yorker article to go deep into this question. What is going on with AI? How did we get here? What does it mean for our personal quest to live deeper lives? He then answers listener questions and ends by discussing his recent brush with literary acclaim.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This? [1:00]Will AI leave me unemployed in 10 years? [1:06:26]How should I structure the next 10 years as a recently retired college professor? [1:13:58]I just moved. How should I arrange my book collection? [1:15:36]CALL: Overhead tax [1:17:47]CAL REACTS: Ed Sheehan and the Booker Prize [1:27:55]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/what-if-ai-doesnt-get-much-better-than-thisyoutube.com/watch?v=zju51INmW7Uyoutube.com/watch?v=Dtdue31z-X8youtube.com/watch?v=0SXCIfFK5r8youtube.com/shorts/dYZmGHOLNRUyoutube.com/watch?v=k82RwXqZHY8youtube.com/watch?v=qhnJDDX2hhUyoutube.com/watch?v=qbIk7-JPB2c&t=3syoutube.com/watch?v=k82RwXqZHY8youtube.com/shorts/JCImeOUVTJEThanks to our Sponsors: grammarly.com/podcastcozyearth.com/deepcalderalab.com/deepshipstation.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
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Ep. 366: How to Reinvent Your Life in 4 Months (Classic Episode from August, 2023)
In this replay of one of the more popular episodes from the Deep Questions archives, originally aired in August ,2023, Cal explores some of his early strategies for cultivating a deeper life.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoToday’s Deep Question: How can I reinvent my life in 4 months? [1:30]How can I ease into Cal's more advanced time management strategies? [36:58]Can unstructured work be a part of the deep life? [40:33]How can I stop changing my mind about what I want to do with my life? [44:41]Can I pursue the deep life if I need a job? [52:24]How do you pursue the deep life with depression? [56:49]Cover Reveal for Slow Productivity [1:05:27]Thanks to our Sponsors:This show is brought to you by Better Help.https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestionshttps://www.mybodytutor.comhttps://www.miro.comhttps://www.shopify.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
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Ep. 365: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back)
Why do we end up entangled with tools that don’t have our best interests in mind? How can we fix this situation? In this episode, Cal dives deep into the difference between additive and extractive technologies, telling a story that weaves old technology with old versions of modern tools, testimony from recent trials to ideas from leading technology critics – all in the service of improving your relationship with tools. He then answers listener questions and discusses the books he read in July, 2025.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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back) [:54]- Do project trackers work? [34:54]- Is there a downside scenario to engineering wonder? [39:14]- What types of people should I surround myself with? [43:00]- Can you explain your different audiences? [45:02]CALL: Shifting from medical work to a PhD [50:41]JULY BOOKS: The 5 Books that Cal Read in July, 2025 [57:33]L.A. Story (Bill Plunkett)Disney’s Land (Richard Snow)Ingenious (Richard Munson)Original Sin (Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson)Wool (Hugh Howey)Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slowGet 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://substack.com/@priscillaharvey1/note/c-133662492https://www.yahoo.com/news/zuckerberg-tells-court-facebook-no-171222971.htmlhttps://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/mark-zuckerberg-is-so-over-facebook-friends?srsltid=AfmBOoo4dysXG_2rXWDJaKnSdG6CfbCqf0O_8op_R1phpz5GQPx2F4XAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7jar4KgKxshttps://pluralistic.net/2022/11/28/enshittification/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ai-fC-2Bpohttps://www.emarketer.com/content/openai-hires-its-first-cmo-kate-rouch-foreshadowing-adshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfUpEWAKPf8&t=2350sThanks to our Sponsors:https://www.expressvpn.com/deephttps://www.oracle.com/deepquestionshttps://www.indeed.com/deephttps://www.calderalab.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
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Ep. 364: Metrics 101
When Cal recently returned home from his time spent up in New England he set up a whole new set of daily metrics to track in the fall to keep him pointed toward the deep life. And they failed. Hard. In this episode, Cal dissects why metrics matter, why they’re easy to mess up (including the mistakes he made), and how to use them correctly (including how he corrected his own setup). He then answers listener questions and discusses a recent AI article that got him all hot and bothered.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Metrics 101 [2:10]How should I navigate the “grey area” when deciding to make a career change? [24:45]Do you have a framework for young people to develop deep critical thinking? [27:36]What should a father of 4 kids do for his next career move? [32:34]Can skills from a high-pressure call center carry over to a career in cybersecurity? [35:36]Should I have anticipated that my job was going to end? [38:36]CALL: Returning back to work after a summer break [43:14]CASE STUDY: Pursuing a hobby while combating digital doldrums [46:47]WHAT I’M (NOT) READING: Vibe Reporting on AI [55:52]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?nytimes.com/2025/07/28/arts/video-games-artificial-intelligence.htmlThanks to our Sponsors: vanta.com/deepquestionssmalls.com/deepshopify.com/deep1password.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for segment music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
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Ep. 363: Escaping the Digital Doldrums
What does Walt Disney’s malaise in the 1940s have to do with our current struggles with our screens? In this episode, Cal uses a little-known story from Disney’s midlife to identify an effective strategy for escaping the nerve-deadening, dull state created by spending more and more of your professional and personal life on screens. He then answers listener questions (with an unusual level of spiciness), tries to calm himself with a reprise of the SLOW PRODUCTIVITY CORNER theme music, and concludes with a discussion of a recent essay he wrote about how no one really knows anything about AI.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: [1:47]How should I pursue two different goals after leaving my software engineering career? [21:10]Should I leave my business analyst job and buy a retail business? [24:32]I’ve tried writing for editors (and publications) before with no success. Any suggestions on how to break through? [30:08]How do I convince my company that AI assistance is not the answer? [35:27]Is inspiration perishable like Naval Ravikant says? [38:11]CALL: Inbox anxiety [43:15]CASE STUDY: A public school teacher with a blog [51:27]WHAT I’M WRITING: No One Knows Anything About AI [59:13]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?amusingplanet.com/2019/01/walt-disneys-backyard-railway-carolwood.htmlyoutu.be/KyfUysrNaco?si=uE6tJkPuFhdnbla2&t=2490calnewport.com/no-one-knows-anything-about-ai/Thanks to our Sponsors: drinklmnt.com/deepcozyearth.com/deepcalderalab.com/deepshipstation.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
Cal Newport is a computer science professor and a New York Times bestselling author who writes about the impact of technology on society, and the struggle to work and live deeply in a world increasingly mired in digital distractions. On this podcast, he answers questions from his readers and offers advice about cultivating focus, productivity, and meaning amidst the noise that pervades our lives.
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