Personalized news app Artifact, created by Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, is set to shut down just one year after its launch. Systrom announced the closure in a Medium post, stating that the market opportunity for Artifact was not significant enough to warrant further investment.
With the news industry facing an existential crisis, Systrom highlighted the importance of technology in supporting and preserving it. Artifact was initially designed as a curated feed of news and AI, utilizing machine learning to deliver relevant content from journalists. The app aimed to provide users with a personalized news experience tailored to their interests.
In April, Artifact expanded its offerings to include content creation, customizable profiles, comment threads, and a voting system akin to Reddit. However, the app encountered difficulties with moderation and struggled to compete with more popular social media platforms. The ability to comment and post has now been disabled.
While users will no longer be able to engage with the app’s features, they can continue scrolling through news posts until the end of February. Artifact’s closure highlights the challenges faced by news startups in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. Despite the app’s initial promise, it ultimately failed to gain the traction needed to sustain itself in the market.
As the news industry grapples with declining revenues and evolving consumption habits, technology-driven solutions like Artifact are seen as potential saviors. However, the app’s demise serves as a reminder that even with high-profile founders and innovative features, success is not guaranteed in this competitive sector. The closure of Artifact underscores the difficult road ahead for news startups seeking to disrupt the traditional media landscape.