In a surprise twist, Artifact, the well-received AI-powered news app from Instagram’s co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, may not be shutting down as planned. The company announced in January that the award-winning app would be winding down operations due to market conditions, but it appears that the founders have had a change of heart.
Artifact Continues to Function Despite Initial Plans for Shutdown
As it turns out, Artifact has continued to function in the many weeks since the initial announcement, and it’s not by mistake. Systrom revealed to TechCrunch that he and Krieger are continuing to keep the app alive for the time being, with no immediate plans to shut down.
"It takes a lot less to run it than we had imagined," Systrom confirmed. "It will still likely go away, but we’re exploring all possible routes for it going forward."
This news is sure to give fans of the news discovery app some hope that they may not lose access to their favorite feature just yet.
The Rise and Fall (and Possible Revival) of Artifact
Artifact made a splash at launch due to its clever use of AI, which helped users discover news from pre-vetted sources. The personalized news reading app offered features such as summarizing news in various styles and rewriting clickbait headlines for better clarity.
The app’s "Gen Z summary" feature was particularly popular among users, but it will be missed when the app eventually goes down.
"It’s a shame that Artifact is shutting down," said one user on Twitter. "I’ll miss its ‘gen z summary’ feature so much."
Interest in AI-Powered News Aggregation Heats Up
Following Artifact’s announcement of its impending closure, interest in using AI to summarize the news has heated up. Browser startup Arc implemented an AI-powered "pinch to summarize" feature ahead of its $50 million fundraise.
Other startups have also turned to AI to improve the news reading experience, such as RSS reader Feeeed, AI-powered news reader Bulletin, and Particle, an AI news reader built by former Twitter engineers.
Artifact’s Funding and Future Plans
Artifact was self-funded by Systrom and Krieger to the tune of "single-digit millions," which means they have the funds to continue running the app in the near term. However, it remains to be seen whether the founders will find a way to maintain the app in the long run.
"We’re exploring all possible routes for Artifact’s future," Systrom said.
The Impact of Artifact’s Potential Revival
If Artifact does indeed manage to stay alive, it could have significant implications for the news industry. The use of AI-powered news aggregation has been gaining traction, and Artifact’s potential revival would be a major boost to this trend.
As the founders continue to explore options for the app’s future, one thing is clear: the AI-powered news landscape is changing rapidly, and Artifact may yet play a significant role in shaping its direction.
Timeline of Events
- January 2024: Artifact announces plans to shut down due to market conditions
- February 2024: Initial end-of-life date for Artifact
- Present day: Systrom reveals that he and Krieger are continuing to keep the app alive
Related Developments in AI-Powered News Aggregation
- Arc implements AI-powered "pinch to summarize" feature ahead of $50 million fundraise
- Feeeed, Bulletin, and Particle all turn to AI to improve news reading experience
- Interest in AI-powered news aggregation heats up following Artifact’s announcement
Conclusion
Artifact’s potential revival is a surprise twist that highlights the dynamic nature of the tech industry. As the founders continue to explore options for the app’s future, one thing is clear: the AI-powered news landscape is changing rapidly, and Artifact may yet play a significant role in shaping its direction.
Only time will tell what the future holds for Artifact, but one thing is certain: the use of AI-powered news aggregation is here to stay.