BuzzFeed unveiled two new AI-powered consumer apps at SXSW — BF Island, a group chat platform with AI photo editing tied to trending memes, and Conjure, a daily photo prompt app with an 'AI spirit CEO' — under a new spin-off called Branch Office. The demos received a cold reception from the audience. The announcement comes days after BuzzFeed disclosed 'substantial doubt' about its ability to continue as a going concern, with a $57.3M net loss last year. Critics noted the apps appear to prioritize what AI can do over what users actually want, raising questions about user retention and product-market fit.
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