The integration of AI into journalism continues to evolve with Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, and other major publications dabbling in AI-generated content. Pushing the boundaries further, Curio has introduced Rio, an app featuring an “AI news anchor” that aims to curate personalized news experiences from credible sources for its users.
The Rabbit SXSW Festival in Austin was the venue where the team behind the AI-powered audio journalism venture, Curio, launched Rio. Esteemed investors like Khosla Ventures and TED’s Chris Anderson have contributed to the project’s funding, details of which will be shared post the investment round’s closure.
Curio was a conception of former BBC strategist Govind Balakrishnan and London lawyer Srikant Chakravarti in 2016. The advent of Rio signals an expansion of AI use in their product lineup.
Initially an internal feature within Curio’s platform, Rio offers tailored daily briefings compiled from esteemed sources such as Bloomberg and The Washington Post. It provides both text and audio options, preventing users from getting trapped in an opinion echo chamber.
The functionality of Rio was tested to showcase its Story-esque interface where users could interact with news headlines, listen to AI-narrated articles, and more. Curio assures that Rio will not generate false content and will always use verified publisher content.
Users can also engage with Rio using a chatbot feature to explore various topics. Since last May, over 20,000 questions have been posed to Rio, which led to its separation into an independent app.
Chakravarti emphasizes the value Rio brings in navigating through the news, ensuring users are left informed rather than overwhelmed. With multiple startups exploring AI in news reading, including the likes of Particle and Bulletin, Rio has entered a competitive field with its unique approach.
While Rio’s future as a standalone product is yet to be seen, it’s easy to envision its integration with larger content aggregators. For now, Rio remains accessible through early access or by joining a waitlist at rionews.ai. A select few readers can skip the line using an invite link to experience Rio firsthand.
FAQs
- What is Rio?
- Rio is an artificial intelligence-based news app that curates personalized news experiences from trustworthy sources for its users, providing an AI news anchor interface for interactive consumption of news content.
- Who has invested in Rio?
- Rio has garnered investment from Khosla Ventures and TED’s head, Chris Anderson, among other undisclosed investors.
- How is Rio different from other news apps?
- Rio uses AI to create daily briefings, offering both text and audio formats, while actively aiming to prevent users from falling into echo chambers by presenting a wide array of trusted sources and perspectives.
- Can I access Rio now?
- Rio is currently available through early access by invitation, but you can join the app’s waitlist. A few readers may also use a special invite link provided at the end of the article.
Conclusion
Curio’s Rio stands out in the burgeoning field of AI-enhanced news consumption tools. As it vies for a unique space in the market with its intelligent news curation and interactive reading experience, its acceptance by users will ultimately depend on its ability to deliver on its promise of a more substantive and less overwhelming approach to staying informed. Whether Rio will revolutionize newsrooms or integrate into existing platforms remains to be seen, but the potential impact on the future of news consumption is undeniable.