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

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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