BuzzFeed's AI Gamble Stumbles at SXSW as Audience Left Puzzled
BuzzFeed's much-hyped AI pivot hit a snag at SXSW when its new apps Conjure and BF Island received awkward silence instead of applause. The digital media company, struggling financially after cutting its Pulitzer-winning newsroom, faces growing skepticism about its AI-first strategy. While CEO Jonah Peretti insists content is no longer king, the lukewarm reception suggests users still crave substance over gimmicks.