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

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Cal Newport

Self-improvement, Technology, Education

4.8 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 9 February 2026

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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) ARCThe Vampire, The Tutor, and the Madman (Josh Douglas)One Direction (Charles Duhigg) Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet 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-lossescnbc.com/2026/01/28/amazon-layoffs-anti-bureaucracy-ai.htmlcalnewport.comnytimes.com/2025/07/28/arts/video-games-artificial-intelligence.htmlnypost.com/2026/01/31/tech/moltbook-is-a-new-social-media-platform-exclusively-for-ai/news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46838834youtube.com/@WesRoth/videosyoutube.com/@airevolutionx/videosyoutube.com/watch?v=JoQG25gQyRgnewyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/02/what-maga-can-teach-democrats-about-organizing-and-infighting Thanks to our Sponsors: factormeals.com/deep50offmonarch.com (Use code “DEEP”)pipedrive.com/deepmybodytutor.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm not sure if you've noticed, but a lot of AI coverage has gotten out of hand recently.
0:06.9	I mean, if engineers get any more excited about Claude code, I think they're going to elect it mayor of San Francisco.
0:13.2	So today in the idea segment of this show, we're going to take a closer look at this issue.
0:18.1	I'm going to identify the biggest traps to avoid when reading news about
0:21.7	AI if you're looking to just get the straight facts about this technology and not succumbed
0:27.7	overhyped terror or exhilaration. In particular, I'm going to introduce what I think are three
0:33.9	increasingly common shady moves that show up in AI coverage.
0:39.0	Here's my name for them.
0:40.7	Vibe reporting, digital ick, and faux astonishment.
0:46.0	I'm going to describe each of these traps, and I'll give you some examples of them from
0:49.7	out in the wild, so you will know what to look out for.
0:53.2	Then in the practices segment, we're going to
0:55.0	revisit a popular topic in online circles, morning routines. I have a take on these rituals that I
1:00.6	think might surprise you. And finally, just a quick heads up. In the Q&A segment, I'm going to respond
1:06.6	to the rumor that I filmed a course for Masterclass. Spoiler alert, I did, and it's available now, and I'll tell you more
1:12.8	about it when we get there.
1:14.6	All right, so we have a lot to get to today.
1:16.8	As always, I'm Cal Newport,
1:19.4	and this is Deep Questions.
1:21.7	The show about the fight for depth
1:23.1	in an increasingly distracted world.
1:25.7	And we'll get started right after the music.
	...

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