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Thanks for that Jono, it's very interesting if a tad disconcerting.

On an unrelated note, did you know the comedian Dave Gorman has also turned his hand to setting? He uses the names Bluth and Django and wrote a forward for the Everyman book of crosswords and received guidance from Allan Scott - who used to be the Everyman.

Here's a link to an entertaining article should anyone be interested be interested:-

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/crossword-blog/2021/may/24/crossword-blog-meet-the-setter-tvs-dave-gorman-standup-comic-with-a-cryptic-alter-ego

Thanks Brendan, I also learned that the team behind crossword genius were involved in the development of Amazon Alexa. Worth knowing if only to avoid should you so choose.
I knew about Dave G but hadn’t seen that article, thanks! If you’re on Twitter he’s good to follow and often posts on crossword-related matters. Several other Guardian setters are also there…

Interesting stuff, HW. As far as I can see you have to download an app for Crossword Genius, though the results of previous clue queries are searchable on the net. I'll gladly concede I was wrong about the use of AI in the case of Crossword Genius - not surprising since I know next to nothing about how AI works. For example, I don't understand how computer software could have "seen" a clue in any given paper.

Danword may well operate on the same basis, but its owners are much less transparent about how it works and there's no attempt to parse or explain clues. I conclude that Crossword Genius is an interesting technological development, even if I have no interest in using it, but I can't help feeling that there is something a bit shady about Danword, however it works.

You are assuming that 'Dan' is in the UK. He may well be in another timezone and solving them during normal daytime. The tagline for the site is "let me solve this for you". Even if he was UK based I still think it's plausible that it's someone who loves crosswords making a little money from advertising by publishing solutions every day. Please let us know the results of your investigation!

If the company you are reporting on is indeed called Danworld Ltd, I don't really see any connection with an entity posting as Dan Word.