, the news aggregation app from the makers of , now has some social features after its latest update. Users can now create profiles and comment on any article in the app.
Taking a cue from , Artifact will allow you to upvote and downvote other users’ comments, which will factor in commenter reputation scores and help moderate discussions. The app also uses artificial intelligence for moderation.
Artifact says that the reputation score “represents the trust earned from the community and will help you weigh people’s opinions and help us filter out bad behavior.” The goal, , is to foster a positive community in which everyone is encouraged to participate. The app will notify you when your comments get upvoted or downvoted. You will also be notified when your contacts comment on what they read.
Artifact
You will need a profile, which is optional, to comment on articles. Profiles can include your photo and bio (adding both will apparently improve your reputation). You will have to to create one. A phone number is also needed if you want to keep your Artifact history and preferences.
Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in January. It uses AI to curate news and present you with things it thinks you’ll want to read. “We have a strong and growing community, and sometimes the biggest voices are never interviewed or quoted,” Systrom wrote in an Artifact commentary. “These discussions give everyone an opportunity to participate and have a voice.”
In a bit of a coincidence, Artifact is gaining real social components on the same day that Substack is releasing its . In a sense, the two relative upstarts are trying to take on the established social media platforms at their own game.
