EPISODE · Mar 5, 2026 · 1H 45M
The collapse of modern attention (and how to get it back) - Cal Newport - #1067
from Modern Wisdom · host Chris Williamson
Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University, a productivity expert and an author. Has AI “workslop” damaged our ability to focus? When AI entered the workplace, many thought it would replace knowledge workers. Instead, we’re flooded with AI-generated noise that feels productive but often isn’t. In this new era, is the real competitive advantage simply the ability to focus? Expect to learn what the future of work will be with major advancements in AI, what most people’s relationship with productivity is like at the moment, why your ability to focus is becoming increasingly more important, how people should deal with a lot of work messages, if new AI tools actually have been as transformative as they have claimed to be, if AI in the workplace has been a huge disappointment so far and why and much more… Timestamps: (0:00) Did Cal Predict the Attention Crisis? (3:57) Why Distraction Is Exploding Right Now (9:56) Can You Actually Retrain Your Attention Span? (14:30) Cal’s Top Focus Strategies (22:56) Should We Have Shorter Work Weeks? (33:29) Is Workslop Destroying Productivity in the Workplace? (48:53) Can AI Reliance Create More Opportunities For Us? (01:00:31) Why AI Should Push Us Toward Hard Thinking (01:03:33) You Need to Work Smarter, Not Harder (01:13:27) Why Organisations Obsess Over Busyness (and How to Stop It) (01:27:53) Is Quantum Computing Actually Useful in AI? (01:32:46) Why Reading is More Important Than Ever (01:44:08) Where to Find Cal Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Get up to 20% off the leading longevity and cellular health supplement at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom Get up to $350 off the Pod 5 at https://eightsleep.com/modernwisdom Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at https://join.whoop.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman - Get In Touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University, a productivity expert and an author. Has AI “workslop” damaged our ability to focus? When AI entered the workplace, many thought it would replace knowledge workers. Instead, we’re flooded with AI-generated noise that feels productive but often isn’t. In this new era, is the real competitive advantage simply the ability to focus? Expect to learn what the future of work will be with major advancements in AI, what most people’s relationship with productivity is like at the moment, why your ability to focus is becoming increasingly more important, how people should deal with a lot of work messages, if new AI tools actually have been as transformative as they have claimed to be, if AI in the workplace has been a huge disappointment so far and why and much more… Timestamps: (0:00) Did Cal Predict the Attention Crisis? (3:57) Why Distraction Is Exploding Right Now (9:56) Can You Actually Retrain Your Attention Span? (14:30) Cal’s Top Focus Strategies (22:56) Should We Have Shorter Work Weeks? (33:29) Is Workslop Destroying Productivity in the Workplace? (48:53) Can AI Reliance Create More Opportunities For Us? (01:00:31) Why AI Should Push Us Toward Hard Thinking (01:03:33) You Need to Work Smarter, Not Harder (01:13:27) Why Organisations Obsess Over Busyness (and How to Stop It) (01:27:53) Is Quantum Computing Actually Useful in AI? (01:32:46) Why Reading is More Important Than Ever (01:44:08) Where to Find Cal Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Get up to 20% off the leading longevity and cellular health supplement at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom Get up to $350 off the Pod 5 at https://eightsleep.com/modernwisdom Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at https://join.whoop.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman - Get In Touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The collapse of modern attention (and how to get it back) - Cal Newport - #1067
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