Status: 13.01.2024, 17:37 PM
CommentsPrint Share
Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the co-founders of Instagram, are shutting down their AI-powered news app Artifact, less than a year after its launch.
Nearly a year after its launch, Artifact, the AI messaging app from Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, is shutting down. The decision to cease operations was made due to a lack of market opportunities.
From News Reading to News Curation and Discovery Platform
Originally launched as a news reading app, Artifact evolved into a news curation and discovery platform. In doing so, the company used AI tools to stay relevant. The app tried to assert itself through features like summarizing messages, rewriting clickbait headlines, and highlighting top content. However, these changes may have distracted from the app's original intent as a simple messaging app.
Artifact faced stiff competition in the Twitter/X alternatives market and saw a decline in usage compared to other platforms in their niche. The app struggled to establish its identity as a platform for conversation and discovery, as a competitor to Pinterest for finding interesting links, or as an AI-driven news engine. Since December 14, 2023, Threads has also been operating as a Twitter/X alternative in Europe.
Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the co-founders of Instagram, are shutting down their AI-powered news app Artifact, less than a year after its launch. © SNA/IMAGO
The Future of News and AI
Despite Artifact's failure, Systrom believes that news and information will continue to be critical areas for start-up investment, and that other "bright minds" are working on ideas in the space. The decision to close Artifact is intended to make it easier for users by gradually disabling features such as commenting and posting.
Artifact, an ambitious AI-based news app, is being discontinued. Despite the considerable background of its founders, Artifact was unable to gain enough market share to continue. This marks the end of a short but interesting experiment in the field of AI-powered news publishing. Kevin Systrom uploaded the first photo to Instagram on July 16, 2010.