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News consumption is changing rapidly in the digital age. People are looking for more personalized, engaging and digestible ways to stay informed. That’s why a Paris-based startup called Capsule has launched an app that aims to become the “Spotify for news” by combining artificial intelligence (AI) and human editorial curation.
How does Capsule app work?
Capsule app is not a typical news aggregator that simply collects and displays news articles from various sources. Instead, it transforms news articles, newsletter snippets, social media posts and other online content into concise and insightful summaries that can be easily read and explored on its user-friendly app.
The app has a vertical scrolling feed that resembles TikTok or other social apps. Users can swipe through a series of headlines with accompanying photos or screenshots of posts from platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. They can tap on any headline to read a summary of the news, and then optionally tap the link to the original source to read the full article or post on the publisher’s website. The app also features a section showcasing professional headshots of notable individuals mentioned in the headlines, giving users a more personalized and engaging way to connect with the news.
The app also offers related news stories beneath each summary, which helps users to enhance the depth and breadth of their reading experience. Users can also discover new content by browsing through different categories or searching by keywords.
How is Capsule app different from other news apps?
Capsule app is different from other news apps in two main ways: its content selection and its content presentation.
First, Capsule app relies on a network of curators who are avid readers with a unique perspective. These curators are responsible for finding and seeding the app with new and relevant content that fits the app’s editorial ethos, which is all about trends and insights for modern leaders. The app currently employs a team of 10 freelancers from around the globe for this task.
Second, the app leverages AI to distill the essential information or the main insights from each article or post. Then, the app’s editorial team adds to these insights with additional research, cross-referencing and extra data to give users a fuller picture. The app’s summaries are like mini newsletters, packed with clickable links, images and interactive elements.
The app’s co-founder Jérôme Boé tells that the app is more than just clicking through to a source. “Think of it as a starting point where we dive deeper. We research, cross-reference, and inject extra data to give users a fuller picture. It’s like a mini newsletter, packed with clickable links, images and interactive elements are on the horizon,” he says.
What is the vision behind Capsule app?
Capsule app was founded by Jérôme Boé and Arthur de Villemandy, who have previous experience in creating short-form video and newsletter products. They were inspired by the idea of making quality news more accessible and engaging by using a combination of AI and human curation.
They also have a vision of organizing the world of news and information the way Spotify organizes music by creating “playlists” of news and adding recommendations. They want to create a personalized and immersive news-reading experience that adapts to each user’s preferences and interests.
The app is not trying to compete with Google News or other news aggregators, but rather to complement them by offering a different and innovative way to consume news. The app has no current limitations on the sources for the news that may show up in its feed. So far, the app has already tapped into over 400 news sources and counting.
The app is currently bootstrapping the startup but is considering a freemium model in the future if it is able to perfect the user experience and find traction. The app is available as a free download on iOS.