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In an appearance yesterday on CNBC, Jerry Levin, who led the historic $164 billion deal ten years ago, apologized for the colossal failure of the sale, putting himself on the line a decade later. “I presided over the worst deal of the century, apparently, and I guess it’s time for those who are involved in companies to stand up and say: you know what, I’m solely responsible for it,” said Levin. “I was in charge. I’m really very sorry about the pain and the suffering and loss that was caused. I take responsibility.”

AOL has a new vision for the digital future, in which a consolidated editorial product is curated and created in the most efficient way possible: by computers instead of people. That’s right — in the wake of layoffs, but amidst a concerted effort to surge ahead with online content, AOL is making due with what they have, which happens to be lots and lots of technology. And freelancers.

With the benefit of hindsight, the AOL-Time Warner merger is widely derided as a very, very bad idea. Now, on the eve of AOL’s split with Time Warner, rumors are emerging that AOL and Time Inc. are considering a “co spin-off.” Despite having both “AOL” and “Time” in the name, here’s why that merger could actually be a great idea: