Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

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

(0:00) Did AI just “solve” math?

(2:38) What OpenAI did

(6:30) Question #1 - Is this result that important?

(7:34) Question #2 - Does this mean LLMs are now smarter than human mathematicians?

(17:50) Question #3 - Does this mean all equally hard challenges will now be conquered by AI?

(23:27) Question #4 - What is the future of math?

(28:27) Concluding thoughts

Links:

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

https://openai.com/index/model-disproves-discrete-geometry-conjecture/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br4l9YjCyRU

https://x.com/PeterDiamandis/status/2058956956077871275

https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/74c24085-19b0-4534-9c90-465b8e29ad73/unit-distance-remarks.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

It’s common to feel like you don’t have enough time in your schedule to build a life that’s both professionally successful and personally deep. But is this true? In today’s episode, Cal interviews time management expert Laura Vanderkam about her new book, BIG TIME, which argues that with the right tweaks and mindset you might be able to start getting more out of your life right away. 

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) How do I reclaim my schedule? (w/ Laura Vanderkam)

(2:00) Eliminating distraction and prioritizing deep work

(1:08:18) Batching email responses

(1:13:25) Cal’s upcoming books

(1:18:51) What Cal is reading

(1:24:06) HQ update

Books:

Grow Healthier as You Grow Older (Kenneth Cooper)

The Ride of a Lifetime (Bob Iger)

MurderBot (Martha Wells)

Links:

Sign up for Cal’s newsletter at www.calnewport.com/ideas

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?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

https://www.calderalab.com/deep

https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions

https://www.shipstation.com/deep

https://www.drinklmnt.com/deep

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) 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

What can an obscure theory of industrial productivity teach us about producing better results in a distracted world? In this episode, Cal is joined by the #1 New York Times bestselling author David Epstein to explore this question. They dive deep into a chapter of Epstein’s new book, INSIDE THE BOX, that makes a surprising connection between the so-called “Theory of Constraints” and personal productivity.

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) How do I get busy to better?

(3:04) INTERVIEW: How Do I Get from Busy to Better? (w/ David Epstein)

(57:58) Post Interview chatter

(1:00:19) A suggestion to break digital news app addictions

(1:05:54) A reaction to a recent newsletter

(1:15:02) What Cal read

(1:16:29) What’s coming up

Books:

Kook (Peter Heller)

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://calnewport.com/who-asked-for-this/

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

https://www.factormeals.com/deep50off

https://www.wayfair.com

https://www.mybodytutor.com

https://www.shopify.com/deep

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 also at: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

0:00 Is AI About to Automate Every Office Job? 3:02 Other Tech Leaders Don’t Agree 5:49 -We Aren’t Seeing Enough Progress 14:09 -LLMS Are Limited 24:19 Conclusion

Links:

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

https://www.reddit.com/r/AI4tech/comments/1r4tukp/microsoft_ai_ceo_mustafa_suleyman_says_most_if/

https://x.com/TheChiefNerd/status/2045947286518157395

https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1snhfzd/claude_opus_47_is_a_serious_regression_not_an/ 

https://x.com/mattshumer_/status/2047376179414421957

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2025-in-review/why-ai-didnt-transform-our-lives-in-2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDOmNa9inA4

https://www.ft.com/video/2c428045-bf4f-45bd-ada2-8ba53983cd81

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

In his recent New York Times essay, Cal argued for a “cognitive fitness” revolution to resist the onslaught of digital tools degrading our ability to think. But how does one actually strengthen their brain? In this episode, Cal details a sustainable cognitive fitness routine built around five key components. 

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

2:25 DEEP DIVE: How Do I Build “Cognitive Fitness”? | Monday Advice

INBOX: 

30:51 Message from a social media influencer

33:02 Reaction to Amy Timberlake interview

38:01 Putting Cal’s advice into practice

WHAT CAL IS UP TO:

41:20 What I read

43:45 What I’m doing

Books:

The Noonday Devil (by Jean-Charles Nault: translated from original French)

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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdvqpqHSQas

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/opinion/technology-mental-fitness-cognitive.html

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/what-kind-of-writer-is-chatgpt

https://i0.wp.com/www.americamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MertonCover.jpeg-427330.jpeg?w=992&ssl=1

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/opinion/sunday/steve-jobs-never-wanted-us-to-use-our-iphones-like-this.html

https://anjalibanerjee.com/paws-and-platen/from-typewritten-draft-to-published-page 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

https://www.calderalab.com/deep

https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions

https://www.shipstation.com/deep

https://www.zapier.com/deep

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 What has *Actually* Happened in AI in 2026? 

3:07 Open Claw

27:53 Anthropic and the Department of War

49:06 Data Centers

Links:

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

https://www.axios.com/2026/01/31/ai-moltbook-human-need-tech

https://www.macstories.net/stories/clawdbot-showed-me-what-the-future-of-personal-ai-assistants-looks-like/

https://www.anthropic.com/news/statement-department-of-war

https://futurism.com/science-energy/data-centers-construction-supply

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