Categories: AI News, AI Newsletter, AI Tools Directory
AI Curious Review: What Happened to This AI Newsletter?
Let's be real for a second. The world of Artificial Intelligence is… a lot. One minute you're just getting your head around the latest GPT model, the next there are a dozen new text-to-video generators, a groundbreaking research paper from a lab you've never heard of, and five new AI-powered to-do list apps. It's a firehose of information, and most days, I feel like I'm trying to take a sip.
That's why I've always been a huge fan of curated newsletters. The good ones, anyway. The ones that act as your personal filter, your trusted guide through the noise. A while back, I came across one that really caught my eye: AI Curious. The premise was so simple, so clean, it was brilliant. But as I went to check back in on it recently, I hit a wall. A digital brick wall, to be precise. A GoDaddy landing page.
The domain, AiCurious.co, is for sale. And that, my friends, is a story worth telling.
What Exactly Was AI Curious?
So, what was this little newsletter that had me intrigued? AI Curious wasn't trying to be the most comprehensive or the most academic AI publication. Its goal, as I saw it, was to be the most useful daily touchpoint. It operated on a beautifully simple formula, which they called the 3-2-1 format:
- 3 AI Findings: Three interesting, bite-sized takeaways from recent studies, developments, or news.
- 2 AI Tools: A quick look at two new or noteworthy AI tools you could actually try out.
- 1 Extra Item: A final thought-provoking piece—an ethical question, a cool concept, or a bit of industry commentary.
The entire thing was designed to be read in just a few minutes. It wasn't a commitment; it was a daily habit. It aimed to keep you informed and, just as the name implies, curious. It was less about making you an AI academic and more about keeping that spark of wonder and awareness alive without the burnout.
Visit AI Curious
The Genius of the 3-2-1 Format
I’ve seen this structure before in different niches, and it works for a reason. In a world of endless scrolling and content overload, structure is a godsend. The 3-2-1 format is like a daily AI bento box. You know exactly what you’re going to get, the portions are perfectly sized, and it leaves you satisfied but not stuffed.
Think about it. You don't have to guess how long it'll take to read. You know there will be something practical (the tools) and something to think about (the findings). This predictability builds trust and loyalty. I’ve always felt the best newsletters respect your time and your inbox, and the AI Curious format was a masterclass in that respect. It was the perfect antidote to the overwhelming, unstructured chaos of a Twitter (or X, whatever) feed.
The Good, The Bad, and The Biased
No project is perfect, of course. AI Curious had its strengths and, looking back, some clear weaknesses. It's a classic case study in the trade-offs of content creation.
What AI Curious Got Right
First off, it was free. You can't argue with that. It was an accessible entry point for anyone. The content was also incredibly concise. It delivered on its promise of being a quick read. But the thing that really stood out to me was its stated focus on ethical considerations. In an industry that often moves at breakneck speed, prioritizing features over consequences, this was a breath of fresh air. A newsletter that not only showed you the cool new shiny toy but also prompted you to think, 'huh, what are the implications of this?' That’s a sign of a mature and thoughtful curator.
Where It Fumbled a Bit
The flip side of being concise is, naturally, a lack of depth. You're getting the 'what', but not always the deep 'why'. For a quick daily update, that's fine, but you'd need to go elsewhere for a detailed analysis. Then there's the curator's curse: bias. The very nature of a curated newsletter means it's subjective. You're trusting one person's (or a small team's) judgment on what's important, which might not always align with your interests. And probably its biggest achilles heel was its reported reliance on Twitter for sourcing content. Building a core business function on another platform's goodwill is, esspecially in hindsight, a house of cards. One algorithm change or API lockdown, and your entire workflow is disrupted.
So, What Happened? The $598 Question
This brings us back to the present. The digital ghost town. According to GoDaddy, the domain AiCurious.co can be yours for a cool $598. So, what gives?
Honestly, we can only speculate. Maybe the creator got a fantastic job offer and was acqui-hired. Perhaps it was a passion project that simply ran its course—creator burnout is real, people. Running a daily newsletter, even a small one, is a relentless grind. Or maybe, and this is the most common story, it just wasn't sustainable. Even free newsletters have costs: time, hosting, the email platform itself. Without a clear path to monetization like sponsorships or a premium tier, passion can easily fizzle out when it meets reality.
Forgetting to renew a domain is a rookie mistake, but it happens. Letting a domain with established brand equity go up for public sale feels... intentional. It's a quiet, definitive end.
A Lesson for SEOs and Digital Marketers
There's a massive lesson here for all of us in the digital space. Your domain name isn't just a web address; it's your digital real estate. It's the foundation of your brand. The fact that `AiCurious.co` had built up enough of a following for me to remember it and go looking for it means it had brand equity. And now, that equity is for sale to the highest bidder for less than the price of a new iPhone.
Someone could snatch up that domain tomorrow and do one of three things:
- Redirect it: Funnel any lingering traffic to their own, similar project.
- Revive it: Relaunch a newsletter under the same name, capitalizing on the old reputation.
- Hold it for ransom: Hope the original creator comes back, and sell it to them for a much higher price.
It's a stark reminder of the lifecycle of online projects and the critical importance of having a long-term plan. Great content is one thing, but brand management and a sustainable business model are what give it staying power.
Alternatives to Fill the AI Curious Void
If you're like me and are now looking for that quick, curated AI fix, don't despair! The space is full of fantastic creators. Here are a few I personally follow:
- Ben's Bites: Probably the most well-known daily AI newsletter. It's comprehensive, skimmable, and has a great, friendly tone. It's a bit more in-depth than AI Curious was, but still very manageable.
- The Neuron: Another daily that does a great job of explaining complex AI topics in a simple, jargon-free way. They often use clever analogies that make things click.
- TLDR AI: Part of the broader TLDR newsletter family, this one is pure efficiency. It's just the headlines and a one-sentence summary. If you really only have 30 seconds, this is your jam.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the AI Curious newsletter?
- AI Curious was a free, daily newsletter that provided curated updates on artificial intelligence in a simple 3-2-1 format: 3 findings, 2 tools, and 1 extra insight.
- What was its main appeal?
- Its main appeal was its brevity and structure. It was designed to be a quick, digestible read that kept you informed about the AI world without overwhelming you. It also had a focus on AI ethics.
- Was AI Curious free?
- Yes, the newsletter was completely free to subscribe to.
- Why did AI Curious shut down?
- While there's no official statement, the fact that its domain name, AiCurious.co, is for sale on GoDaddy suggests the project has been discontinued. Reasons could range from creator burnout to a lack of a sustainable monetization plan.
- Are there good alternatives to AI Curious?
- Absolutely. Newsletters like Ben's Bites, The Neuron, and TLDR AI all offer excellent daily or frequent updates on artificial intelligence, each with a slightly different style and depth.
- Could someone revive the AI Curious brand?
- Technically, yes. Since the domain is for sale, anyone could purchase it and start a newsletter under that name. They would be able to capitalize on any lingering brand recognition the original newsletter built.
A Final Thought
So, here's to AI Curious. It was a great idea, perfectly suited for our hectic times. While it may have become a digital ghost, its approach is a fantastic model for any aspiring content creator. It’s a reminder that in the rush for more, sometimes the most valuable thing you can offer is less. Be clear, be concise, and respect your audience's time. The spirit of staying curious about AI lives on, even if the domain name is up for grabs. C'est la vie.
