Shutdown of The Artifact News App: Instagram Founder’s Bold Decision

The shutdown of the Artifact News App, created by Instagram’s co-founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, is happening just a year after it started because not enough people were using it. Co-founder Kevin Systrom mentioned this in a blog post “We have built something that a core group of users love, but we have concluded that the market opportunity isn’t big enough to warrant continued investment in this way.”

Official Notice on the Shutdown of the Artifact News App

The Artifact team mentioned in a notice “We’ve chosen to close down the Artifact app. The main news reading feature will work until the end of February. Starting January 12th, you won’t be able to add new posts or comments as part of streamlining our operations. However, your current posts will still be visible on your profile.

Kevin Systrom mentions further that Startups should consider facing challenges early on, as doing so can be better for everyone. The main drawback is spending time on newer, bigger projects that have the potential to reach many people. I am personally excited about creating new things, but only time will tell what they might be. We live in a time where artificial intelligence is changing a lot, and there are endless opportunities for new ideas. This perspective is particularly relevant amid the shutdown of the Artifact News App.

Investing in startups focusing on news and information becomes even more vital, especially in the wake of the shutdown of the Artifact News App. With numerous publications closing down, local news disappearing, and larger publishers grappling with technology companies, Kevin Systrom remains hopeful. He believes that technology, including AI tools, can play a crucial role in supporting and expanding these struggling institutions. Despite the challenges, there’s a positive outlook for the future, and gratitude is extended to the community for their participation in the Artifact journey.

The Artifact Co-founder Kevin Systrom is happy about the achievements of their small team of 8. The app was recently honored as the essential app of the year by the Google Play Store. The co-founders had the pleasure of working with talented engineers and designers and deserve a lot of respect. Even though they are parting ways, they can fondly reflect on what they’ve created.

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