Ep. 370: Deep Work in the Age of AI

A recent study called into question a core assumption about the generative AI revolution: that these tools, at the very least, will make us more productive. In this episode, Cal dives deep into the study and argues that when it comes to efforts that require deep work, AI can sometimes make things worse. He then answers listener questions and then takes a closer look at an article claiming that the lack of Wi-Fi in a West Virginia school is making their students dumber. 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: Deep Work in the Age of AI [0:38]Can ChatGPT chats act as single purpose notebooks for projects? [26:16]When should I apply active recall? [29:34]Do you have insights into AI’s environmental impact? [31:16]What would you do if you left academia? [38:40]CASE STUDY: Using strategies to develop a Deep Life [43:04]CAL REACTS: Does lack of Wi-Fi make students dumber? [53:09W]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?metr.org/blog/2025-07-10-early-2025-ai-experienced-os-dev-study/theatlantic.com/economy/archive/2025/09/ai-bubble-us-economy/684128/marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/08/the-school-without-wifi.htmleducationrecoveryscorecard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/report_WV_5401140_pocahontas-county-schools.pdfThanks to our Sponsors: This show is sponsored by BetterHelp:betterhelp.com/deepquestionscozyearth.com/deepshopify.com/deepmybodytutor.comThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

IQ scores had been steadily rising since WWII. But, more recently, this phenomenon has stopped.  Since 2010, we’ve actually been getting dumber. In this episode, Cal gets into the common theories for why this is true before offering his own take, which leads to some practical takeaways to help you thrive in an increasingly stupider world. He then answers listener questions and talks about something he read recently.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: I Want Work-Life Balance. Am I Doomed to Mediocrity? [0:41]How can a west coast executive schedule deep work despite constant meetings with east coast colleagues? [37:14]Is it bad that I fill all of my quiet moments with media? [41:04]How can I focus on personal projects? [46:24]How should  a software engineer transition to consulting? [53:05]How should a former lawyer update her systems now that she’s a professor? [56:43]CASE STUDY: A songwriter works deep and slow [1:06:43]CALL: Getting out of the weeds [1:14:04]WHAT I’M READING: Who is still against school cell phone bans? [1:23:28]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?sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289623000156youtube.com/watch?v=u4jW8MOxIKYrebeccaschiffman.com/beachvacationrebeccaschiffman.bandcamp.comnytimes.com/2025/03/21/nyregion/school-cell-phone-ban-nyc.htmlThanks to our Sponsors: expressvpn.com/deeporacle.com/deepquestionsindeed.com/deepvanta.com/deepquestionsThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by bestselling author and podcaster, Tim Ferriss. Tim rocketed to prominence with his 2007 book, “The Four Hour WorkWeek” which basically redefined a generation’s relationship with work, meaning, and the possibilities for building an interesting life. More recently, Tim created a card game! It’s called Coyote. And he created it with one of the top designers in the business, the same company that created Exploding Kittens.Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaINTERVIEW: The Game of Life (w/ Tim Ferriss) [3:16]Links:https://www.explodingkittens.com/products/coyoteSponsorshttps://www.reclaim.ai/calThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A 22-year-old made a splash recently when he published a Wall Street Journal op-ed claiming that work-life balance makes you mediocre. He went on to brag about how sleeping less than 4 hours a night and gaining 80 pounds helped him become a millionaire. In this episode, Cal wades into the furious debate this article sparked. He argues that once you look past the author’s dorm bro bravado, the kid does actually ask a good question. It’s just that his answers are lacking. Cal then tackles listener questions and reviews the books he read in August.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: I Want Work-Life Balance. Am I Doomed to Mediocrity? [1:06]Is it possible to stay focused when having to check my phone for text messages? [42:20]When did you switch back to your teaching schedule to your summer schedule? [44:05]How has your deep life evolved since Episode 1? [49:22]How can I stop obsessively checking my work email? [53:47]Can you summarize how values and strategic planning documents, birthday projects and lifestyle centric planning combine? [58:14]CASE STUDY: Organizing household admin [1:01:44]CALL: How to tame Trello cards [1:06:39]AUGUST BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in August 2025 [1:13:26] Boundless Realm (Foxx Note)Collisions (Alec Nevala-Lee)Before the Birds Sang Words (Ken Bruce)Desperation Reef (T Jefferson Parker)Shift (Hugh Howey)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?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX1XHMlX1J0Thanks to our Sponsors: ridge.com (use code “Cal”)drinklmnt.com/deepshopify.com/deepcalderalab.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When we think about unhealthy phone usage, we think about the flashing apps, like TikTok and Instagram, in which billions of dollars have been spent to grab our attention. In this episode, Cal points to an unassuming culprit that may be just as responsible: simple messaging apps. He explores research that connects the social stress of pending messages to phone addiction, and explores ways to free yourself from constant messaging without having to isolate yourself socially. He then answers listener questions and discusses what he’s been reading.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: The Texting Dilemma [5:35]How can I structure my mornings with my sales job if I don’t have two hours for deep work? [31:44]How should I handle mandatory overtime at my aerospace job? [33:18]How can I handle too many open loops with my shutdown ritual? [35:54]How can I better organize communication with my university students? [40:38]Should I take on extra-curricular roles during my first year of my PhD? [44:00]CALL: Household chore task list [48:01]CASE STUDY: 30-day declutter [51:45]WHAT TO READ: An author quits social media [59:45]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?sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563214007626journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9671478/carolinecrampton.com/im-done-with-social-media/Thanks to our Sponsors: calderalab.com/deepmiro.comshopify.com/deepgrammarly.com/podcastThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.