Is AI Trending Up or Down in 2026? | AI Reality Check

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

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

▶ 0:00 What has *Actually* Happened in AI in 2026? 

▶ 3:07 Open Claw

▶ 27:53 Anthropic and the Department of War

▶ 49:06 Data Centers

Links:

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

https://www.axios.com/2026/01/31/ai-moltbook-human-need-tech

https://www.macstories.net/stories/clawdbot-showed-me-what-the-future-of-personal-ai-assistants-looks-like/

https://www.anthropic.com/news/statement-department-of-war

https://futurism.com/science-energy/data-centers-construction-supply

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

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