Airchat, a revolutionary social media app, has been released once again with improvements and features that encourage its users to “just talk”. Developed by a team led by AngelList founder Naval Ravikant and former Tinder product executive Brian Norgard, Airchat has been relaunched on the iOS and Android platforms and is already making waves. With a current invitation-only system, Airchat has already climbed to an impressive #27 ranking in social networking on Apple’s App Store.
Visually, Airchat may seem like a familiar and intuitive platform, allowing users to follow others, browse through a feed of posts, and interact with them by replying, liking, and sharing. However, the key difference lies in the format of these posts and replies – they are all audio recordings that are transcribed by the app.
Upon opening Airchat, users are immediately greeted with a continuous stream of messages. By simply swiping up and down, users can easily cycle through them. For those who prefer, the audio recordings can also be paused and text versions can be read instead. Additionally, users can share photos and videos, but the focus seems to be on audio, which Ravikant believes transforms the dynamic of social apps compared to traditional text-based ones.
When first logging into Airchat, most of the posts are about the app itself, with Ravikant and Norgard actively engaging with users by answering questions and seeking feedback.
“Humans are all meant to get along with other humans, it just requires the natural voice,” Ravikant explains. “Online text-only media has given us this delusion that people can’t get along, but actually everybody can get along.”
This isn’t the first time technology startups have bet on the power of voice as the next big thing in social media. However, Airchat’s asynchronous and threaded posts create a unique experience compared to live chat rooms like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces. Norgard points out that this approach removes the pressure of stage fright, as users can take as many passes as they like at composing a message without anyone knowing.
Interestingly, the team found during conversations with early users that “most of the people using Airchat today are very introverted and shy.”
Personally, I have yet to post anything on Airchat. Instead, I’ve been more intrigued by seeing how others use the app. Plus, I have a love-hate relationship with the sound of my own voice.
However, there is something special about hearing Ravikant and Norgard explain their vision in their own voices, rather than just reading the transcriptions, which can often miss nuances like enthusiasm and intonation. I’m also curious to see how deadpan jokes and memes translate into audio.
I did have one difficulty with the app – the speed. By default, the app plays audio at double speed, which I found to be unnatural, especially for fostering human connection. Luckily, users can adjust the speed by holding down the pause button, but I noticed myself skimming through longer posts before eventually skipping ahead. However, this may not be an issue for others.
When asked about content moderation features, given Ravikant’s belief in the power of voice to reduce hostility, he stated that the feed is powered by “complex rules around hiding spam, trolls, and anyone you or they may not want to hear from.” At the time of publication, he had not responded to a user’s follow-up question about content moderation.
As for monetization, Ravikant shared that there is “no pressure” for it at the company. While he is not the sole investor, he is a significant one and firmly believes that monetization is not a priority. In his words, “We’ll run this thing on a shoestring if we have to.”
