Ep. 400: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”?

If there was one word to describe modern digital tools, it would be “fast.” But not everyone thinks this is better. In today’s episode, Cal explores the concept of “slow technology” – the embrace of tools that have fewer features and more friction, but nonetheless produce better work and more satisfaction. His guide in this effort is the acclaimed children’s book author Amy Timberlake, who talks to Cal about her recent shift to using a mechanical typewriter. Cal then reviews other examples of slow technology in action, and then proposes several general principles for applying the philosophy in your own life.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to podcast@calnewport.com.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”? (w/ Amy Timberlake) [3:20]

INBOX:

- A book about spiritual sloth [1:03:49]

- What is Cal’s opinion about Yuval Harai’s thoughts on AI? [1:05:22]

WHAT CAL IS UP TO:

- Deep or Crazy: 2nd edition signed Andromeda Strain for HQ? [1:18:29]

- Myth buster gear: display in HQ [1:20:13]

- 400th episode [1:23:01]

Books:

Magic Journey (Kevin Rafferty)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/02/why-some-are-returning-to-mp3-players

https://ugmonk.com/blogs/journal/analog-the-simplest-productivity-system

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240102-oppenheimer-and-the-resurgence-of-blu-ray-and-dvds-were-now-in-the-age-of-streaming-anxiety

https://ignatius.com/the-noonday-devil-ndevp

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32240681755

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp:

https://www.betterhlep.com/deepquestions

https://www.calderalab.com/deep

https://www.mybodytutor.com

https://www.grammarly.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI Reality Check: Is AI Stealing Entry-Level Jobs?

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

OPENING: Is AI stealing entry-level jobs? [1:29]

MAIN STORY: Torsten Slok essay [3:06]

CONCLUSION: AI is not stealing entry-level jobs now [11:32]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/ai-entry-level-jobs-graduates-b224d624

https://www.apolloacademy.com/busting-the-ai-youth-unemployment-myth/

https://www.theatlantic.com/economy/2026/04/job-market-artificial-intelligence/686659/

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s been a decade since the original publication of DEEP WORK. Do its ideas still hold in 2026? This is the question Cal tackles in today’s episode: reviewing the four major “rules” from his book, reviewing what still holds and what changes he would add.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode:youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: Is Deep Work Still Possible in 2026? [2:03]

INBOX:

- Will I lose the ability to write if I use AI? [39:45]

- The effects of AI on education [45:30]

- Avoiding social media [52:24]

WHAT CAL IS UP TO:

- What I’ve been doing [53:38]

- What I’ve been reading [55:26]

Books:

Mistborn (Brandon Sanderson)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/opinion/technology-mental-fitness-cognitive.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

https://www.factormeals.com/deep50off

https://www.shopify.com/deep

https://www.wayfair.com

https://www.notion.com/cal

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

ACT #1: Look Closer at the Article [1:20]

ACT #2: A Closer Look at the Paper [3:21]

ACT #3: But What About… [7:24]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/27/number-of-ai-chatbots-ignoring-human-instructions-increasing-study-says

https://x.com/summeryue0/status/2025774069124399363

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/23/anthropic-ai-deception-risk

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s a key question: Did technology like smartphones make us miserable, or were we already miserable and smartphones made it worse? To help figure out this answer, I talked to Arthur Brooks, the #1 New York Times bestselling author and Harvard professor, about this new book: The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness. In our conversation, Brooks argues that our current Age of Emptiness began in the 1990s, but technology like smartphones and social media made it worse. We then discuss smart strategies for finding purpose in our current moment.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to podcast@calnewport.com.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: How Do I Find Purpose in a Distracted World? (W/ Arthur Brooks) [1:44]

INBOX:

Tech employees being evaluated through LLM tokens [1:01:49]
Can Cal comment on reading digital books? [1:07:35]

WHAT CAL IS UP TO:

What Cal is reading [1:13:00]
Deep Work HQ update [1:14:37]

Books:
Mistborn (Brandon Sanderson)

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?
gizmodo.com/tech-employees-are-reportedly-being-evaluated-by-how-fast-they-burn-through-llm-tokens-2000736627

Thanks to our Sponsors:

monarch.com (Use code “DEEP”)
butcherbox.com/deep
drinklmnt.com/deep
meetfabric.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Nate Mechler for research and newsletter, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

SUB QUESTION #1: What is Yan LeCun Up To? [2:55]

SUB QUESTION #2: How is it possible that LeCun could be right about LLM’s begin a dead-end? We’ve been hearing non-stop recently about how fast they’re advancing. [14:55]

SUB QUESTION #3: What would happen next if LeCun is right? [22:26]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/technology/ami-labs-yann-lecun-funding.html

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A new study finds that for many workers, AI increases shallow efforts while decreasing time focusing on what really matters. This is not the first digital productivity technology to create this paradoxical effect. In today’s episode, Cal dives deep into why this happens and then details three strategies for avoiding these traps in your own professional life.

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

DEEP DIVE: Why Do “Productivity Technologies” Make My Job Worse? [3:17]

INBOX:

• An article about meetings [36:11]
• A case study on escaping email overload [47:29]
• A tool that makes the internet more boring [50:37]

WHAT CAL IS UP TO:

• Deep or Crazy? [57:02]
• What Cal read [1:02:23]
• Cal in the news [1:05:57]

Books:

Reader, Come Home (Maryanne Wolf)
What Do You Say? (William Stixrud and Ned Johnson)

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?
pmresearcher.substack.com/p/why-meetings-multiply
docs.pluckeye.net/overview

Thanks to our Sponsors:

calderalab.com/deep
cozyearth.com/deep (Use code “DEEP”)
grammarly.com
drinkag1.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Nate Mechler for research and newsletter, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.