Warning: Pure Engagement Is Unsustainable

Ep. 375: Did OpenAI Just Kill Social Media?

OpenAI has been making waves recently with their release of their Sora 2 video generation model, which they have launched alongside a TikTok-style social media sharing app. The internet is usually pretty excited about AI innovations, but this one has people unsettled. In today’s episode, Cal looks at one implication of Sora 2 in particular that is both important but currently overcooked: the impact of AI content generation on the existing social media giants. He then answers listener questions on AI and social media and reacts to a new Sam Altman tweet that signals bad news for OpenAI.

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

Deep Dive: Did OpenAI Just Kill Social Media? [0:02]

• Will Sora 2 kill creativity? [46:12]
• Am I doing myself a disservice by using AI tools to help me code? [51:36]
• Is Substack better than social media? [55:55]
• What are your thoughts on a “family smartphone”? [1:06:35]
• What should I do when others disregard the structures that are meant to reduce the digital back and forth? [1:07:53]

CASE STUDY: A Digital Declutter [1:15:38]

CALL: Children with dumb phones or smartphones [1:19:49]

CAL REACTS: Sam Altman Proposes AI Erotica  [1:27:46]

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?
SORA: the all Ai TikTok Clone. will slop end creativity?
youtube.com/watch?v=Vz0oQ0v0W10
newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/tiktok-and-the-fall-of-the-social-media-giants
youtube.com/watch?v=I1dW-nZqhew
x.com/sama/status/1978129344598827128

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

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