Is audio the answer to the current social media market, which has become more of content distribution platforms than any kind of social space in itself? Clubhouse tried it a few years ago and is already one of those applications in the graveyard of those that succeeded, but only for a few months.
Just like what happened, for example, with Vime, this app that proposed group chat rooms had a moment of effervescence where it seemed they were going to change how we interact on social platforms, only to then fall dramatically in their usage rates.
Now, however, an app proposes something similar. Or maybe not so much. We’re talking about Airchat, an app promoted by the well-known investor and founder of AngelList, Naval Ravikant, which has become the new darling of Silicon Valley.
What is Airchat and what does it propose specifically: Audio, but with nuances
Airchat is a platform that sits at the intersection of the ephemeral and the audible. Imagine being able to share snippets of your day, spontaneous reflections, or music, all in audio format and with the ease of an environment that prioritizes the auditory over the visual.
That’s why the application presents itself as a hybrid between Twitter and Clubhouse, combining brevity and public nature of X now, with the immediacy and audio focus of Clubhouse, which changes the focus from audio rooms to audio feeds.
However, with a very strong focus on transcription through artificial intelligence for those who cannot listen.
The TikTok of audio
The Airchat interface advocates for a lesson in functional minimalism. When opening the application, the user is greeted by a feed of text blocks that are actually voice note transcriptions. These notes are played automatically, creating a continuous experience that one can pause at will, similar to videos on TikTok.
To add an audio, simply hold down the audio/video button, speak, and then release to publish. Writing is not allowed, promoting an environment where voice and sound take center stage.
Available by invitation only and still not in Spanish
After a launch that exceeded all expectations, Naval Ravikant, co-founder of Airchat, had to temporarily pause new registrations due to overwhelming demand. First, it moved to an invitation system, which has now been paused again because it was being used for fraudulent purposes to obtain telephone numbers.
“We have had a large influx of new users, so we are going to disable the invitation function for a while,” Ravikant said on Sunday.
Ravikant, known for his role in AngelList, is an investor whose thinking has been very influential in the technology and startup sector, and he is also the mind behind Airchat.
His vision for the application seems to focus on creating a more human and less artificial space within the digital realm, where interactions are not polished by visual filters or dominated by text.
Will it be the new Clubhouse?
Although Airchat shares characteristics with Twitter and Clubhouse, its focus on audio streaming and the lack of space for written text distinguishes it.
While Twitter is a hub of brief written updates and Clubhouse facilitates longer and moderated audio conversations, Airchat opts for a more fluid and personal experience, mimicking the spontaneity of real conversations.
However, the question is whether it will prevail or be short-lived once again, as happened with Clubhouse after its sudden success during the lockdown.
Will it become a relevant player or will it be just another experiment in the history of social networks?
