Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 391: Is AI Reporting Broken? + Rethinking Morning Routines


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Is there something rotten in the state of AI reporting at the moment? In the ideas segment of this episode, Cal details three common traps in AI coverage that distort or distract from the reality of this technology. Once you know what to look for, these traps become easy to avoid – greatly improving your experience when trying to keep up to date on the latest advancements. Then, in the practice segment, Cal asks why morning routines have become so popular among young people. His explanation (hint: it involves the fight for depth in a distracted world) uncovers new ideas about how to make morning routines actually useful.

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

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

IDEAS SEGMENT:  Is AI Reporting Broken? [1:43]

PRACTICES SEGMENT: Rethinking Morning Routines [29:27]

QUESTIONS:

  • Did I see somewhere that you’re filming a MasterClass? [41:24]
  • Now that David Brooks left the NYT, will he start a Substack? [46:25]
  • Cal reacts to comments [48:25]
  • WHAT CAL’S READING: Cal gives his weekly reading update  [50:45]

    Time Freedom (Brian Heriott) ARC
    The Vampire, The Tutor, and the Madman (Josh Douglas)
    One Direction (Charles Duhigg)

    Links:
    Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
    Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
    Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
    qz.com/amazon-layoffs-ai-tech-job-losses
    cnbc.com/2026/01/28/amazon-layoffs-anti-bureaucracy-ai.html
    calnewport.com
    nytimes.com/2025/07/28/arts/video-games-artificial-intelligence.html
    nypost.com/2026/01/31/tech/moltbook-is-a-new-social-media-platform-exclusively-for-ai/
    news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46838834
    youtube.com/@WesRoth/videos
    youtube.com/@airevolutionx/videos
    youtube.com/watch?v=JoQG25gQyRg
    newyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/02/what-maga-can-teach-democrats-about-organizing-and-infighting

    Thanks to our Sponsors: 

    factormeals.com/deep50off
    monarch.com (Use code “DEEP”)
    pipedrive.com/deep
    mybodytutor.com

    Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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    Deep Questions with Cal NewportBy Cal Newport

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