Yahoo Acquires AI-Powered News App Artifact from Instagram Co-Founders
In a recent announcement, Yahoo revealed its acquisition of Artifact, an AI-driven news application created by Instagram‘s co-founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, Artifact will cease to function as an independent app, with its AI-powered personalization technology set to be integrated across Yahoo’s platforms, including the Yahoo News app, in the coming months.
Systrom and Krieger to Advise Yahoo During Transition
As part of the acquisition, Systrom and Krieger will work closely with Yahoo in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition of Artifact’s technology. This move comes shortly after Artifact announced its decision to wind down operations due to limited market opportunities that did not justify further investment.
Artifact’s Journey: From News App to Twitter Competitor
Although Artifact initially launched as a straightforward news application, it gradually evolved into a potential rival to Twitter. However, the app faced stiff competition from numerous contenders in the space, including Meta’s Threads, making it challenging to establish a strong foothold in the market.
Personalized News Feed and AI-Powered Features
Artifact’s technology excels at delivering content tailored to users’ interests, continuously refining its recommendations based on user engagement. This results in a highly personalized news feed that caters to individual preferences. Additionally, the app boasts several AI tools capable of summarizing news articles, rewriting clickbait headlines, and highlighting the most relevant content. Yahoo believes that integrating these capabilities into its portfolio will accelerate the opportunity to provide users with richer content experiences and enhanced personalization.
“Artifact has become a beloved product and we’re thrilled to be able to continue to grow that technology and further our mission of becoming the trusted guide to digital information and the best curator connecting people to the content that matters most to them,” said Kat Downs Mulder, SVP and General Manager of Yahoo News, in a press release.
Expanding Artifact’s Reach and Impact
Systrom expressed his belief that Artifact’s technology has the potential to benefit millions of people, stating:
“Yahoo brings the scale to help the product achieve what we envisioned while upholding the belief that connecting people to the trusted sources of news and information is as critical as ever.”
With Yahoo’s extensive reach and resources, Artifact’s innovative technology is poised to make a significant impact on the way users consume and engage with news content across Yahoo’s platforms.
3 Comments
Yahoo’s still kicking, huh? Instagram founders’ AI startup is their new play!
Artifact in Yahoo’s hands? Let’s hope it’s a match made in tech heaven, not a journey to obsolescence!
Yahoo making moves, who knew they had it in them to snag the Instagram founders’ latest venture, Artifact?