Deep Questions with Cal Newport Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?
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Aug 25, 2025 The latest discussion dives into the unexpected stagnation of AI advancements, especially post-GPT-5. It questions whether automation truly threatens jobs or if economic cycles play a bigger role. The skepticism surrounding AI evolution is explored, revealing a gap between hype and reality. Practical advice for navigating life after retirement is shared, along with insights into personal growth through digital disconnection. Humorous anecdotes about literature and creativity create a light-hearted yet thought-provoking atmosphere.
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Scaling Law Sparked The AI Gold Rush
- The scaling law showed that bigger models, more data, and more compute produced rapid capability gains in language models.
- That empirical power-law made a simple path to much stronger AI feel plausible and worth massive investment.
Mixed Early Reactions To GPT-5
- Early reviewers found GPT-5 sometimes better and sometimes worse than prior models on trivial tasks like thumbnails and invitations.
- That mixed performance fueled public disappointment compared with sky-high expectations.
Coverage Conflates Layoffs With AI
- Media coverage often conflates tech-sector layoffs with AI adoption, producing misleading narratives.
- Close inspection frequently shows layoffs stem from post-pandemic hiring cycles, not AI replacements.
