Yahoo Boosts News Aggregation with AI App Artifact Acquisition

Yahoo acquired the AI-powered news app Artifact, developed by Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom, the co-founders of Instagram, on Tuesday.

Systrom and Krieger will advise Yahoo during the shift. The financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

After the acquisition, Artifact will be phased out. Yahoo News and other Yahoo platforms will soon incorporate Artifact's AI-driven content classification, curation, and customization technologies, according to The Verge.

Yahoo's Move to Revolutionize News Aggregation

Artifact's decision to close a few months ago was owing to a lack of market prospects for investment. After launching as a simple news app, Artifact appeared to be a possible Twitter competitor, entering a market with severe competition like Meta's Threads.

Artifact's technology personalizes news streams depending on user choices. The app had AI news summarizing, headline rewriting, and content curation features. Yahoo hopes to improve user experiences and personalize content distribution with purchases.

Kat Downs Mulder, Yahoo News' Senior Vice President and General Manager, is excited to develop Artifact's technology and increase its reach under Yahoo, according to a TechCrunch report.

In a statement, she said, "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."

Systrom stated that Artifact's technology might benefit millions. He stressed the necessity of connecting consumers with reliable news sources in today's digital world and said Yahoo's size will help fulfill the platform's ambition.

Both Kevin Systrom and Kat Downs-Mulder promote gradual integration. They stress that Yahoo News needs more than Artifact's algorithms. However, they expect a faster future. Yahoo wants to build a tailored content environment like "TikTok for text," which Artifact users enjoyed.

Artifact Founders to Continue Support for the Platform

Systrom is unsure about his plans for the future. He works with Krieger on new ideas and ensures a seamless Yahoo transition. Systrom is optimistic about AI in a language-model-dominated world. He understands that entrepreneurship is not seasonal, commenting on his fascination with artifacts and his search for the next exciting project.

This development follows a TechTimes report on the possibility of Artifact continuing its operation. In January, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger declared that the app would cease owing to a lack of business potential, although it has continued to run beyond February 2024. Systrom expressed interest in maintaining the platform's development, giving Artifact users hope.

Artifact launched in January 2023 to provide a curated stream of "news, facts, and AI," using machine learning to find relevant journalistic articles. It was initially praised by customers and news analysts but struggled to maintain momentum due to frequent social media platform changes.

Christianna Silva of Mashable said that by April of the same year, the app would have included content production options, including customizable profiles, comment sections, and voting. Silva noted that Artifact's "reputation scores," like Reddit's, caused moderation issues. She also noted the difficulties of creating a news-focused app that might compete with Instagram and TikTok.