Airchat, a social app centered around voice messages, has undergone a pivot since its April launch.
The new Airchat now resembles an asynchronous version of Clubhouse: Users join channels based on specific topics and can respond to others in the channel by recording voice messages or videos. Users also have the option to initiate group direct messages to move discussions outside of the main conversation. This shift marks a departure from its previous version, which had a Twitter-like social feed but also included topic-based group chats on subjects like startups, fitness, and books.
Airchat designer Kyle Barber explained to TechCrunch, “With our initial launch, there was significant interest in the topic-based groups, prompting us to focus more on connecting like-minded individuals. The platform now revolves around shared interests, facilitating discussions in rooms or channels.”
The concept of Airchat is engaging, especially for those who prefer sending voice memos over typing lengthy messages on their phone’s keyboard. However, like any social app, the real test for Airchat will be when more users join: How will the platform handle crowded conversations? Will Airchat encounter similar challenges as Clubhouse in moderating audio content? A notable advantage for Airchat is its accurate built-in transcription feature, providing potential support for industry-standard AI-based text moderation.
This is not the first pivot for Airchat. The company initially introduced its first product in May 2023, but founders AngelList’s Naval Ravikant and former Tinder product executive Brian Norgard decided to rebuild the app, leading to its current iteration. Perhaps the third time will prove to be the charm!
