Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, co-founders of Instagram, have resurfaced with a brand-new “text-based” app called Artifact.
According to Systrom, the name was picked to represent the app’s three pillars: “articles, facts, and artificial intelligence.” Using a recommendation system akin to TikTok, it essentially performs the same functions as a news aggregation app.
When Artifact first launches, users will initially see a central feed featuring articles from outlets like The New York Times. As you read more articles, the app will modify the feed depending on your interests.
The seven-person team’s recommendation method, in Systrom’s opinion, favours reading time above clicks and comments. He added that posts that “promote falsehoods”—which would include news pieces from both left- and right-leaning sources—would not be accepted on Artifact.
A social component will eventually be present in an artefact. The co-founders want to launch a feed where items from people they follow are displayed together with their comments.
Through a direct-message inbox, users will now have the option of privately discussing posts. Systrom and Krieger are now funding the initiative out of their own pockets.
They consider Artifact as a pioneering effort to envision contemporary social media applications. If you’re interested in trying it out, you may join the waiting lists for the iOS and Android beta versions. According to Systrom, the team intends to quickly invite new users.
