the bluesky platform team has introduced its latest technical innovation. this time, it goes beyond a new social network to offer an ai-powered assistant that gives users the ability to design their own algorithms, create fully customized content feeds, and ultimately empowers them to program their own applications through simple text commands. this direction represents a paradigm shift in how individuals interact with open social platforms.
what is the at app and how does it work?
during the recent atmosphere conference, bluesky’s former CEO and current head of innovation, jay graber, alongside chief technology officer paul frazzee, introduced the new artificial intelligence application for the first time, dubbed the “at app.” conference attendees will have the opportunity to be the first testers of the beta version of this new experience, whose infrastructure relies on anthropic’s “claude” artificial intelligence model, with the goal of creating an intelligent social app built on the open network protocol known as “at.”
in this context, tony schneider, interim CEO and partner at true ventures—the backer of the project—explained in a press interview: “it’s an entirely new product, not just an additional feature inside the core bluesky app. we have previously launched various features within the platform such as starter packs and custom feeds, but this product stands on its own, and it’s the first achievement of the new team led by jay graber.”
through the “at app,” anyone will be able to build their own content feed by writing simple natural language commands, much like talking to any smart chatbot. to use the app, individuals will log in using their atmosphere account, the same account that works on any app powered by the platform’s core protocol. once logged in, the app will be able to understand the user’s interests and preferred topics, thanks to the open nature of the bluesky network ecosystem, which allows seamless data sharing between interconnected applications.
empowering users instead of platforms
the app allows users to ask various questions, such as inquiring about posts they might enjoy or want to repost, and it can also be used to organize a content feed that accurately reflects the user’s personality and interests. schneider emphasizes this feature, stating: “you control the content, and you shape it, without needing to write a single line of code or know how to program these feeds. this is just the beginning of empowering a much larger segment of people to build and develop within the atmosphere environment.”
schneider adds: “despite being an ai-driven product, it puts humans at the center of its focus. we believe ai is an extremely powerful technology, but we are keen to use it to build tools that genuinely benefit individuals.”
upon initial launch, the app can be used to build and preview content feeds that will later become available within the bluesky platform or any other app relying on the same protocol. over time, the plan aims to allow users to design their own social apps and develop interactive tools for others to use.
leadership changes and massive funding
graber and her team have been working on the app for a few months, which is when she decided to return to her technical passion and building rather than managing the company’s day-to-day operations. schneider explained to the techcrunch news site: “i think she realized there were so many ideas she wanted to build, and the CEO job was consuming all her time. with more free time, it became clear this is where her true passion lies. she is an exceptionally visionary leader, and we prefer she focus on innovation rather than worrying about running the company.”
graber believes that major tech platforms today use artificial intelligence to serve their own interests rather than the users’, by trying to keep people inside their apps longer, harvesting their data, and controlling the algorithms that guide them. she said during the announcement of the app: “we believe ai should serve people, not platforms. the open protocol puts this power directly into the hands of users, where you can use it to build your own feeds, create programs that work the way you prefer, and find useful signals amidst digital noise.”
this launch coincided with the company’s announcement of securing an additional $100 million in funding from a funding round closed last year. the team hopes this news serves as a reassuring message to the tech community that the bluesky platform is continuing strongly. schneider confirms that this funding provides the company with financial stability spanning over 3 years, providing security for the rest of the ecosystem and giving the team enough time to tackle major future challenges, including adding privacy controls to the protocol and finding a way to monetize a social network of 43.4 million users.
a cryptocurrency-free future
schneider reassured users that there are no plans to integrate cryptocurrencies into the platform, despite financial backing from several investors in this field. this issue had worried some users who feared the app would be filled with scams or turn into a complex financial tool. he explained that investors were attracted to the project due to its decentralized nature, not to turn it into a financial platform.
instead, the company may test other avenues for revenue generation. the team has not yet decided whether the “at app” will eventually require a fee, as it is still in a closed beta phase. ideas on the table include offering subscriptions and hosting services for those who want to host their own communities on the open protocol, in a move inspired by the successful wordpress business model.
frequently asked questions
what is the at app and how does it differ from traditional apps?
it is an innovative artificial intelligence-based app developed by the bluesky platform team, allowing users to design their own algorithms and create customized content feeds through simple text commands, rather than relying on algorithms imposed by platforms.
is the at app part of the core bluesky platform?
no, it is an entirely standalone product built by a new team, but it relies on the same open protocol, and users can log into it using their usual atmosphere network accounts.
will cryptocurrencies be integrated into the bluesky platform?
no, management firmly confirmed that there are no plans to integrate cryptocurrencies into the platform, and the company will instead focus on exploring other profitable models such as subscriptions and paid hosting services.
how does the platform benefit from the new funding it received?
with $100 million in funding, the platform now has financial stability extending over 3 years, allowing the team to focus on developing privacy tools and improving the ecosystem serving more than 43.4 million users.