Bluesky launches Attie AI for custom feed creation
▼ Summary
– Bluesky has launched a standalone AI app called Attie, which allows users to design custom feeds and algorithms using natural language commands.
– The app is built on Bluesky’s AT Protocol, uses Anthropic’s Claude AI, and was introduced by former CEO Jay Graber, who now leads a new innovation team.
– Attie accesses user preferences through their atproto login, leveraging the open ecosystem’s data to personalize content without requiring coding skills.
– Bluesky secured $100 million in funding, providing over three years of runway to develop features like privacy controls and explore monetization options like subscriptions.
– The company explicitly rules out crypto integration, focusing instead on building a decentralized social ecosystem similar to the WordPress model.
The social platform Bluesky has introduced a new standalone application designed to put algorithmic control directly into the hands of users. This AI assistant, named Attie, allows individuals to create custom feeds and curate their social experience using simple natural language commands, bypassing the need for any coding knowledge. Unveiled at the Atmosphere conference, the tool represents a significant shift toward user-centric algorithm design on an open social web.
During the event, former Bluesky CEO Jay Graber, now the chief innovation officer, and CTO Paul Frazee presented Attie for the first time. The app is powered by Anthropic’s Claude model and is built upon Bluesky’s foundational AT Protocol, commonly called atproto. Initial beta access is being granted to conference attendees. Interim CEO Toni Schneider emphasized that Attie is a distinct product, separate from the main Bluesky application. It is the first project developed by Graber’s new innovation team, marking a fresh direction for the company.
To use Attie, individuals sign in with their existing Atmosphere credentials, which work across any app operating on the atproto protocol. Because the Bluesky ecosystem is an open network, Attie can immediately access a user’s existing data to understand their interests and conversational history. This allows the AI to respond to queries about what posts to view or share and to help construct a personalized feed tailored to individual preferences. Schneider notes the goal is to democratize creation on the platform, enabling many more people to build on top of the Atmosphere without technical barriers.
The philosophy behind the product is distinctly human-centered. While acknowledging the power of artificial intelligence, the team is focused on deploying it to build tools that genuinely benefit people. Graber has been vocal about her belief that major platforms currently use AI to serve their own interests, aiming to maximize user engagement and data harvesting. In contrast, she argues that an open protocol like AT Protocol returns power to users, allowing them to shape their own software and find meaningful signal in the digital noise.
Attie’s initial functionality centers on feed creation and viewing, with those feeds becoming accessible within Bluesky and other atproto apps. The longer-term vision is more ambitious, allowing users to eventually vibe-code their own social applications and develop tools for others. This development follows Graber’s recent decision to step back from the CEO role to return to her passion for building products. Schneider explained that she desired more time for creation, and the company fully supports her focus on innovation and vision.
The project moves forward with considerable financial backing. Bluesky recently closed a funding round last year, securing an additional $100 million. This capital provides the company with over three years of runway, offering stability for the broader ecosystem and time to tackle complex challenges. These include enhancing privacy controls within the protocol and developing a monetization strategy for the network’s 43.4 million users.
Schneider was quick to address community concerns, specifically ruling out any integration of cryptocurrency features. Despite having investors from the crypto space, their interest stems from a belief in decentralization, not in turning Bluesky into a platform for crypto transactions or scams. The company is exploring other revenue models, such as potential subscriptions or hosting services for communities on the protocol. Whether Attie itself will eventually require a fee remains undecided, as it is currently in a private beta phase.
Drawing a parallel to his experience with WordPress, Schneider sees immense potential in the decentralized model. He envisions the Atmosphere evolving into a vast, open ecosystem where independent apps and services coexist and interoperate, similar to the multi-billion dollar economy that has grown around the publishing platform. The ultimate hope is that this open, user-controlled approach will foster a thriving and diverse digital landscape.
(Source: TechCrunch)
