Discovering the Joys of Artifact: A New Era in News Apps
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Artifact
It's not a common occurrence for me to sit down with a notepad to jot down the top ten things I appreciate about a new mobile application. However, this week has been different due to my delightful experience with a news aggregation app called Artifact, launched by the innovative co-founders of Instagram.
Initially, I approached Artifact with a sense of skepticism, especially since it utilizes AI to curate personalized articles. News aggregation can be quite challenging to execute effectively. Nevertheless, the impressive backgrounds of its creators, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, encouraged me to give it a shot.
Having joined the Instagram community later than most—my first post didn't go live until 2017—I quickly became enamored with the platform. However, as time passed and Facebook's acquisition became evident, the app I had grown fond of morphed into a cluttered space filled with ads and less engaging content.
The magic of early Instagram lay in its thoughtful design, intuitive interface, and high-quality contributions. In a recent discussion, Systrom lamented that today’s Instagram has lost its essence, stating, "The problem lies in the constant push towards commercialization, creators, deals, and ad revenue."
As I downloaded Artifact for the first time, I was reminded of the joy I once felt using early Instagram. After a week of utilizing Artifact (which has now earned a prime spot on my home screen), I am genuinely impressed. Here are the features I’m enjoying the most.
Section 1.1: Features I Love About Artifact
#1 — No More Lost Stories
In recent times, I've been relying on LinkedIn to stay connected with my professional network. A frustrating aspect of LinkedIn is the complete refresh of articles upon feed updates, causing me to lose track of the content I was just viewing. While this may enhance engagement metrics, it detracts from user enjoyment.
In contrast, Artifact allows me to open a story, read it, and then return to my feed without losing my place. The text of the story changes to gray, indicating that I've already viewed it.
#2 — Prioritized Paid Subscriptions
I subscribe to several publications such as The Economist, Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, and I find it worthwhile to bypass the paywalls. Artifact enables me to prioritize these subscriptions in my feed. If I decide to switch my New York Times subscription to The New Yorker next month, adjusting my preferences is a breeze.
The app still presents articles from publications I don’t subscribe to, and I can hide paywalled content for 30 days if needed.
#3 — Insight into Reading Habits
I enjoy seeing which publications I engage with the most. This could influence future subscription decisions based on my reading trends. It’s reminiscent of Spotify's Year-End Wrapped feature, which I find quite appealing.
#4 — Ad-Free Experience (For Now)
While there are ads within articles themselves, the app doesn't feel overly commercialized at this stage. It’s refreshing to use an app that prioritizes user experience over immediate profits. I sincerely hope it steers clear of a potential acquisition by Facebook (or Meta) in the near future.
#5 — Seamless Article Display
The presentation of articles within the app has been excellent. Many publications now feature rich visuals, which can be difficult for aggregators to manage. Artifact appears to handle this well, and it remembers my login information for publications, minimizing the frustration of repeated logins.
#6 — Save Stories for Later
The option to quickly save articles for future reading is a valuable feature. Artifact seems to facilitate faster loading for saved stories, making it easier for me to catch up on content during brief moments of free time.
#7 — Enhanced Feed with Friends
I’m curious to see how my feed's recommendations will evolve as more friends join the app. While I have concerns about creating an echo chamber, my diverse group of friends would likely share a variety of viewpoints and articles.
The first video, "10 Great Common Artifacts For Your Next Deck," explores useful elements to enhance your next project. This guide can help users maximize their experience with Artifact.
#8 — Access to Publication Pages
I appreciate the ability to find a dedicated page for each publication I subscribe to, allowing for chronological reading. However, discovering these pages could be simplified for easier access.
#9 — Reading Streaks and Tiers
For now, I enjoy the ability to track my reading streaks and the number of articles I consume within a month. While I’m still evaluating whether this tracking promotes healthy habits, I understand that the more I engage with the app, the better tailored my experience will become.
#10 — Comprehensive Reading History
Finally, I value having a single location to review my entire reading history. This feature makes it easy to recall interesting articles that I'd like to share with friends without having to sift through various sources.
In conclusion, the creators of Artifact have developed a user-friendly app that addresses many of the challenges associated with consuming news. It significantly reduces the barriers to finding relevant stories that align with my interests. While I'm cautious about the risks of excessive personalization and encountering more paywalls, overall, Artifact has become a valuable part of my daily news routine.
As for whether it will foster healthier news consumption habits and enhance media literacy for myself and society, only time will tell.
Chapter 2: Exploring More Features
In the second video, "Artifacts and Actually Useful Things Claude Can Do! #108," viewers are introduced to practical functionalities that can improve their experience with Artifact.