The team behind the decentralised social network Bluesky has launched a new, standalone AI application called Attie. The app allows users to build custom social media feeds and algorithms using simple natural language commands, without requiring any programming knowledge. It represents the first product from a new innovation team led by Bluesky's former CEO, Jay Graber.
Attie was unveiled at the Atmosphere conference over the weekend by Graber, now Chief Innovation Officer, and Bluesky CTO Paul Frazee. The app leverages Anthropic's Claude AI model and is built upon Bluesky's underlying AT Protocol (atproto). Conference attendees will form the initial beta testing group for the private launch.
A New Direction for Bluesky's Innovation
Interim CEO Toni Schneider confirmed that Attie is a separate product, not a feature within the main Bluesky app. "This is a standalone product, and it’s the first one that’s built by Jay’s new team," Schneider stated in an interview. He emphasised that the goal is to democratise creation on the open protocol: "You control it, you shape it, without having to write code or know how to set up these feeds."
The development of Attie began several months ago, coinciding with Graber's decision to step down as CEO to return to a product-focused role. Schneider explained, "As she spent more time, [and] got freed up, I think it became clear that this is her happy place. She’s an amazing leader and visionary, and we want her building more things."
How Attie Works and Future Plans
Users sign into Attie with their existing Atmosphere login, which grants access to any app running on the atproto, including Bluesky. The AI immediately understands a user's interests and past activity due to the open nature of the protocol's data sharing. Users can ask questions, request post recommendations, and, crucially, instruct the AI to create a fully customised feed.
Initially, these custom feeds will be viewable within Attie and will later become available inside the main Bluesky app or any other atproto application. The long-term vision is for users to "vibe-code" their own social apps and build tools for others using the AI assistant.
Funding, Monetisation, and Philosophical Stance
The launch follows Bluesky's announcement of securing $100 million in additional funding from a round closed last year. Schneider noted this provides "three-plus years of runway," ensuring stability for the broader ecosystem. The company is now focused on challenges like adding privacy controls and finding a sustainable monetisation model for its network of 43.4 million users.
Schneider explicitly ruled out cryptocurrency integration, despite backing from crypto investors, to allay user concerns about scams. Instead, the company may explore subscriptions or hosting services. Monetisation for Attie itself is undecided during its beta phase.
Graber framed the app as a philosophical counterpoint to mainstream platforms. "We think AI should serve people, not platforms," she said. "An open protocol puts this power directly in users’ hands." Schneider drew a parallel to WordPress, envisioning a similarly large, decentralised ecosystem emerging around the AT Protocol.