In a thought-provoking conversation with Brad Stulberg, an author and devoted advocate of cognitive well-being, the discussion centers around a striking MIT study on AI's role in writing. They unpack the controversial idea of 'cognitive debt' and its potential risks to creativity and critical thinking. Listeners will also gain insights into managing personal projects, effective goal-setting strategies, and the importance of a balanced approach to technology and productivity. Prepare for a lively critique of sensationalized AI narratives!
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insights INSIGHT
AI Writing Causes Cognitive Debt
Heavy use of AI for writing leads to a major drop in brain activity and poorer essay quality.
This reduction in cognitive effort is termed "cognitive debt," which impairs long-term thinking ability.
insights INSIGHT
Protect Intellectual Strain as Fitness
Using AI to bypass thinking short-circuits cognitive fitness akin to lifting weights with a forklift.
We should protect intellectual effort that produces long-term satisfaction and brain strength.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Limit AI to Drudgery Tasks
Students and professional writers should avoid using AI to write to maintain cognitive fitness.
Use AI only for drudgery tasks like scheduling or copy editing under time constraints.
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In *Proust and the Squid*, Maryanne Wolf delves into the fascinating history of reading, from early writing systems to the neural pathways involved in reading. The book highlights how reading transforms our brains and culture, and explores challenges such as dyslexia. Wolf also discusses the implications of digital communication on reading habits.
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A blockbuster new study out of MIT takes a closer look at the impact of writing with the help of AI. In today’s episode, Cal breaks down this paper with the help of author Brad Stulberg (who made waves online recently with his reaction to its findings), picking apart the role of AI in deep work activities. Cal then answers listeners questions, and presents a twist on his typical final segment in which he now describes what he is not reading this week, which provides him a thinly-concealed excuse to rant about AI coverage.
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
Deep Questions with Cal Newport 
