After a week spent debating AI’s impact on humanity, Cal wants to turn his attention back to AI’s impact on humans. To support this shift, he brings on the writer Brad Stulberg who recently decided that he was “done” with AI. They explore whether this is a resistance movement in the making…
Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia
More from Cal
Download Cal’s FREE guide to cultivating a deeper life: calnewport.com/ideas
Learn more about Cal’s books: calnewport.com/books
Listen to Cal’s podcast: thedeeplife.com/listen
Chapters
(0:00) A new paper calls LLMs a "cognitive virus"
(4:03) Brad gave AI a real shot — then quit
(8:13) Why everything online now sounds the same
(13:22) Plank 1: Effort, struggle, and the click-of-a-button economy
(20:11) You can take a gondola to the summit, but you didn't climb it
(28:30) Plank 2: AI is an average maker
(33:39) AI swirl: pseudo-productivity turned up to 11
(49:40) Treat AI like ultra-processed food
(55:08) Getting it off your phone, and the lesson of sports analytics
(1:00:13) Team Human and the humanist resistance
Sponsors:
https://www.horizon3.com/deep
https://www.calderalab.com/deep
https://www.notion.com/cal
https://www.factormeals.com/deep50off (Use code "deep50off")
Credits:
Podcast Production: Jesse Miller
Newsletter/Research: Nate Mechler
Theme Music: Jay Kerstens
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