Hollywood celebs are getting into microdrama apps

Hollywood’s finest — the people accustomed to massive eight-figure checks and exotic movie sets — are now betting on something much smaller: microdramas. Microdramas are short, scripted series designed to be watched on phones. Episodes typically run just a few minutes, and often feature soap opera-style plots, dramatic twists, and cliffhangers designed to keep viewers…

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Historian Jill Lepore says Silicon Valley misreads science fiction and undermines democracy

Historian Jill Lepore says Silicon Valley misreads science fiction and undermines democracy

In her upcoming book “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State,” Jill Lepore warns that tech companies are increasingly replacing the functions of democratic government. This shift, she said, marks “a return to tyranny and mystification in the form of rule by algorithms, corporations, machines.” On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, I…

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YouTuber Hank Green says his AI usage is ‘not healthy’

YouTuber Hank Green says his AI usage is ‘not healthy’

Hank Green, a novelist, comedian, and YouTuber with 3.2 million subscribers, recently apologized to his audience for his growing reliance on AI chatbots. The controversy started when, in the middle of a video posted on the educational channel Complexly, Green incongruously used the phrase “I appreciate the pushback,” leading viewers to speculate that he’d written…

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As rivals chase acquisitions, Peacock bets on bundles through a new deal with YouTube

As rivals chase acquisitions, Peacock bets on bundles through a new deal with YouTube

While much of the streaming industry is focused on mergers and acquisitions, NBCUniversal is expanding its reach through partnerships, with its latest move bringing Peacock directly to YouTube. On Monday, NBCUniversal and YouTube announced a multi-year global strategic partnership, bringing Peacock’s Premium plan to YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S. starting in early 2027. This gives…

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