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TechCrunch Surveys Subscribers of TC+

TechCrunch wants to know how TechCrunch+ subscribers like the product, so it has surveyed them. Here are the six screens from the survey, fielded last month. It’s good to see TC so solicitous.

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‘Extra Crunch’ is Now TechCrunch+

TechCrunch this week retired its Extra Crunch brand, ending what proved to be an interesting 31-month experiment. TC’s paid edit product is now called TechCrunch+, only slightly different in composition from its predecessor.

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TC Extra Crunch Relaunches Its EC-1 Deep-Dive Profile Series

TechCrunch Extra Crunch is about to relaunch EC-1, a series of in-depth, multi-part profiles of emerging, private tech companies. TC EC debuted EC-1 profiles in 2019, publishing five in all before Covid-19 began wreaking its havoc. TechCrunch has decided to try it again in 2021.

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Profile: Alex Wilhelm, TechCrunch

Alex Wilhelm is back at TechCrunch. Four years away have changed him. “I’m in different physical shape these days,” he says from his WFH studio in Rhode Island. “I’m a lot thinner. I don’t drink anymore. I’m a less aggressive, kinder person than I was. And I know a lot more.”

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FRIDGE NOTES

The ‘AI Fantasy Draft’ From Eric Newcomer

At this time last year, Eric Newcomer and his two podcast co-hosts — Max Child and James Wilsterman — each formed an “AI startup fantasy team” and picked five AI startups to seed their rosters. We’re now in year 2 and it’s time to draft again. The podcasters wonder… which startups do they dump? Which do they add? The player whose startups accumulate the most total value by Nov. 1, 2028 is the winner, so there’s plenty of time to make adjustments. Here’s a link to the AI fantasy team podcast — you may need a password. Not sure.

How Do We Read?

This timeless explainer — a powerful blend of visuals and text — will explain the psychology of how we read, as in, how does the mind actually work? Hats off to Message Labs, the producer.

How NYT Uses Gen AI

Ars Technica recently filed this revealing piece on how the NYT uses gen AI to analyze gargantuan transcripts, ones that would overwhelm mere mortals. The results still need to be reviewed by humans, but the grunt analysis is done by the LLM. Investigative reporting becomes easier. Journalism is served.

TechTarget Shareholders to Vote on Merger With Informa

It was announced long ago, but on Nov, 26 we learn whether TechTarget stockholders want to join forces with Informa and its legion of IT media brands, not least of which is Industry Dive. It will be hard to imagine a rival of equal power, with IDG/Foundry now a shadow of its former self. IDG/Foundry’s lack of investment and focus on cost-cutting will look unwise if TechTarget and Informa do merge.

Wired To Run Stories from 404 Media

404 Media may not be on your radar, but it currently ranks 8th of 50 leading publications recognized by Techmeme. The edit startup took a step forward this week, announcing a deal with Wired, which will run two 404 Media stories a month — and the pair might collaborate on stories beginning in 2025.

Talk About An Awkward Interview…

Tomorrow at 1:05p PDT, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas will be interviewed by WSJ reporter Deepa Seetharaman as part of this year’s WSJ Tech Live event. It might be awkward, because on Monday, WSJ parent News Corp. sued Perplexity for appropriating News Corp. content. Deepa stands to land the interview of the year if Aravind shows up. His lawyers will probably advise him not to.

Update 10/24: Aravind did show and acquitted himself well in every sense of the term.  The Hollywood Reporter has the story.

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