Dear AI Companies: Stop the “Doom Trolling” | AI Reality Check

Dear AI Companies: Stop the “Doom Trolling” | AI Reality Check

Author: Cal Newport June 25, 2026 Duration: 22:04
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Stop the “doom trolling” (6:53) Cal’s recent New York Times article (9:00) Cal’s argument (10:16) The 2nd option (12:54) Conclusion (15:58) Stop playing along with Doom Trolling game (20:09) Use the term “doom trolling” Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/opinion/ai-dangerous-openai-anthropic.html https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/opinion/yuval-harari-ai-chatgpt.html https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/what-kind-of-mind-does-chatgpt-have https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/opinion/anthropic-ai-claude-mythos.html https://www.anthropic.com/institute/recursive-self-improvement https://x.com/sapinker/status/2067231673268273547 https://x.com/edzitron/status/2067308832053936276 Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport, a computer science professor and bestselling author, brings his thoughtful exploration of technology's role in our lives into an audio format with Deep Questions with Cal Newport. Moving beyond the pages of his books, this podcast creates a direct dialogue where he addresses the real-world challenges submitted by his readers. Each episode feels like a focused conversation, tackling the practicalities of building a meaningful and productive life in an age of constant connectivity. You’ll hear specific strategies for cultivating sustained focus, designing a work life that allows for depth, and establishing boundaries with the digital tools that so often fragment our attention. The discussions are grounded in his research and philosophy, avoiding simplistic life-hacks in favor of sustainable systems. Whether it's navigating the demands of a distracted workplace, finding time for deep hobbies, or managing technology without feeling overwhelmed, Newport provides nuanced advice that connects the dots between personal effectiveness and broader societal trends. This isn't just another productivity podcast; it's a consistent source for rethinking how we engage with our work, our time, and our devices to reclaim a sense of purpose and control. The overall tone is both analytical and accessible, making complex ideas about living and working deeply feel immediately applicable to daily routines. Tuning into this podcast offers a regular opportunity to step back from the noise and consider a more intentional approach to everything you do.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Podcast Episodes
The Truth About Brain Rot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:34
A recent New York Times op-ed reveals the true nature of “brain rot,” and in doing so reveals a much larger problem affecting us all. In this episode, Cal explores this broader problem then draws from an unlikely source…
The AI Resistance is Forming. (Should You Join?) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:56
After a week spent debating AI’s impact on humanity, Cal wants to turn his attention back to AI’s impact on humans. To support this shift, he brings on the writer Brad Stulberg who recently decided that he was “done” wit…
How Worrisome is GPT-6’s “Stealth Thinking”? | Tech Decoded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:04
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) How Worrisome is GPT-6’s “Stealth Thinking”? (8:58) Reasoning models (15:30) Astra (21:02) The Good (24:…
How I’m Organizing My Life this Fall | Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:58
It’s that time of year again when Cal tunes up his organizational systems for the onslaught of the fall. In this episode, Cal walks through the exact system he’s personally adopting for the next few months. He also discu…
Did OpenAI Create “Secret AI Civilizations”? | Tech Decoded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:55
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Does OpenAI create “secret AI civilizations”? (1:59) What’s the deal with “agent swarms”? (8:54) Should…
Rethinking the Deep Life Stack (Again!) | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:23
Back in 2023, Cal released an episode on a lifestyle design strategy I called the Deep Life Stack. Today, almost three years later, Cal revisits this idea and replaces it with a more robust concept that he calls “The Dee…
Has AI “Gone Rogue”? Let’s Look Closer… | Tech Decoded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:50
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Has AI “Gone Rogue” (2:25) Observation #1 - Most Superhuman AI is well behaved (4:28) Observation #2 - A…
How to Build a Cognitive Training Plan | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:45
In the world of physical health, we use so-called “key performance indicators” (KPIs) to help measure and improve our fitness. In today’s episode, Cal proposes a collection of three KPIs for measuring and improving your…
Classic Episode: How Do I Kick My Scrolling Habit? | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:45
The best way to kick your scrolling habit is to introduce more “high quality leisure” into your life. But how do you accomplish this goal? In this replay of a classic episode from February, 2024, Cal walks through six ne…
How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:53
Only 8% of people finish their yearly goals. At the same time, the percentage of people feeling a sense of meaning of purpose in their life is falling. These two numbers are connected: the more we struggle to accomplish…