Yahoo Acquires AI News App Artifact to Personalize User's Experience

Yahoo, once a dominant force in online search and news, has acquired Artifact, an AI-powered news aggregator founded by the co-founders of Instagram. 

This move comes as Yahoo seeks to regain ground lost to competitors like Google in recent years. 

According to Statista, Yahoo's share of the global search market had shrunk to around 1.1% in January 2024. 

Under the terms of the deal, Artifact will cease operating as a standalone app. Instead, Yahoo plans to integrate Artifact's proprietary AI technology across its platform, including the Yahoo News app.

This integration is expected to happen in the coming months. 

Boosting Yahoo News with AI-Driven Personalization 

Analysts believe this acquisition benefits both parties. Yahoo's vast user base of news readers provides fertile ground for Artifact's AI-powered news curation technology.

Yahoo hopes this integration will allow it to deliver a more personalized news experience to its hundreds of millions of users globally. 

"Yahoo was a pioneer in combining human and algorithmic curation of news," said Kat Downs Mulder, SVP and General Manager of Yahoo News.

"Artifact's cutting-edge AI technology complements our existing approach and positions us to become the trusted guide for digital information in the age of personalization." 

Artifact's AI Engine and Personalized News Feeds 

Artefact utilizes an AI-powered discovery engine that tailors news feeds to user preferences.

Over time, the engine learns user interests and surfaces the most relevant content. 

This personalized approach aims to improve user experience and engagement with news content. 

"AI empowers us to deliver a superior user experience by surfacing the news that truly matters to them," said Kevin Systrom, CEO and Co-Founder of Artifact.

"We're excited to see our technology take root within Yahoo News and reach a wider audience." 

Yahoo's acquisition of Artifact, finalized on March 29th, signifies its commitment to leveraging AI to personalize user experiences and regain its position as a leading news platform.