Bluesky Revolutionizes Social Research with AI Attie

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Key Takeaways

1Bluesky is transforming its AI assistant Attie into an open social search tool, expanding its capabilities.

2The new Quests option allows users to explore information on Bluesky's expanded social network, the Atmosphere.

3Despite slowed growth, Bluesky is looking to monetize its user base with innovations like Attie.

💡Why it matters — The evolution of Attie could reposition Bluesky in the social media landscape by leveraging AI to attract and retain users.

Bluesky Redefines Attie as a Social Research Tool

Bluesky, the social networking platform, recently announced a significant transformation of its AI assistant, Attie. Initially designed to enable the creation of personalized social feeds without requiring programming skills, Attie is now evolving into an open social research tool. This evolution marks an important step in Bluesky's ambition to stand out in the digital landscape.

This week, Bluesky unveiled a new feature for Attie, called Quests. This option allows users to request information and news from Bluesky's broader social network, known as Atmosphere. This network is not limited to Bluesky itself but also includes all applications that integrate the AT protocol, the underlying technology of the platform.

User Growth Stalls

Over the past eight months, Bluesky has observed a slowdown in its user growth. Last October, the social network had doubled its user base to reach 40 million in one year. However, since then, growth has been more modest, with a current total of 45.6 million registered accounts. In light of this stagnation, Bluesky is striving to develop new tools and services, like Attie, to expand its user base and explore monetization opportunities.

Attie: A Distinct Product with Monetization Potential

Launched in March, Attie stands out as an independent product from Bluesky. It offers users the ability to design their own algorithms, create personalized feeds, and potentially develop their own applications. Currently free, Bluesky is considering charging for this service in the future, which could represent a new revenue stream.

The Quests feature enhances Attie by allowing users to pose open-ended questions to explore what is happening in this part of the open social web. For example, a user might ask Attie to provide information on trending topics or identify the most influential accounts in a specific field or location, according to the company's explanations.

A Vision for a More Transparent Internet

Jay Graber, Bluesky's Director of Innovation, described Attie as a tool designed to help users navigate the vastness of the Internet. The goal is to combat misinformation and digital noise by providing tools that enable users to discover the truth for themselves. Graber, who stepped down as CEO in March, has been succeeded by Toni Schneider, former founding CEO of Automattic.

Graber also mentioned that Attie is currently undergoing a redesign to incorporate accessibility features and a new logo. Additional improvements are planned for the coming months.

A Promising Beta Version

For now, the new version of Attie is in beta phase. Interested users can sign up for a waitlist to gain access in the coming weeks.

Despite some reluctance within the Bluesky community towards AI for economic, political, and environmental reasons, the company must find a balance between user preferences and the need to generate revenue to support the ongoing development of the platform and the AT protocol.

In March, Bluesky announced it had raised $100 million in a funding round that concluded in 2025. This capital provides the company with the flexibility needed to experiment with innovations like Attie and explore the integration of AI into Atmosphere, as well as other potential services, such as a premium subscription or tools for advanced users.