Twitter alternative Bluesky launched an Android app, and Snapchat launched an AI chatbot and AR Lenses

Hello! 🙋We have the following Product updates for you today! 📣

• Jack Dorsey-backed Twitter alternative Bluesky launched an Android app.
• Snapchat’s announced AI chatbot free for all and launches AR Lenses powered by generative AI.
• Primo, an IT tool for small companies, raised $3.4M.

Jack Dorsey-backed Twitter alternative Bluesky hits Android

The Twitter alternative, Bluesky, supported by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is now available for Android users. The software, which promises a future of decentralized social networking and choose-your-own algorithms, was released in late February to iOS users and is still in closed beta.

Bluesky is in high demand, according to app intelligence firm data.ai. Bluesky has 240,000-lifetime iOS installs.

Bluesky has built its protocol called Authenticated Transfer (AT) Protocol, and it is meant to support “large-scale distributed social applications including account portability, algorithmic choice, interoperation, and performance.

There are some distinctions between Twitter and Bluesky, like Bluesky’s question, “What’s up?” While Twitter asks, “What’s going on?” The app has a simple user interface and allows you to compose a post of 256 characters that can include photographs.

There is no direct message feature in Bluesky while drafting this post, but users may search and follow other people, just like on Twitter.

One of its tabs allows you to view your Notifications, which include likes, reposts, follows, and replies, similar to Twitter.

Bluesky users can share, mute, and block accounts, but advanced features such as adding them to lists are still unavailable.

Bluesky received $13 million in funding last year, with Dorsey on its board. To use the service, you must first join the waitlist or obtain an invite code from a friend.

Snapchat’s announced AI chatbot free for all and launched AR Lenses powered by generative AI

Snapchat made a series of announcements at the most recent Snap Partner Summit, including a free AI chatbot, AR Lenses powered by generative AI, and new features such as new Stories features, updates to the Snap Map, Bitmoji enhancements, new ways to virtually interact with friends, and more.

Snapchat’s AI chatbot, powered by OpenAI’s GPT technology, was previously available only to paid customers, and now it is made free to all users globally. As to Snapchat, users have sent roughly 2 million messages per day using the chatbot.

The goal of the AI chatbot is to give ChatGPT-like experiences, and the feature will help to provide birthday present options for a BFF, arrange a hiking trip, recommend supper recipes, write a poem for a friend, etc. The AI chatbot will also recommend relevant lenses or place recommendations for weakened activities. 

In another announcement, Snapchat revealed AR Lenses driven by generative AI. Snapchat is introducing a new “Cosmic Lens” that transforms you and your surroundings into an animated sci-fi environment?

Snapchat said it is making it easier for users to locate relevant lenses and that the app would begin recommending Lenses that fit the context of a user’s shot photo or video.

Primo, an IT tool for small companies, raised $3.4M

Primo is a French startup building IT management software for SMBs (small to medium businesses); it raised $3.4 million in funding from Headline, GFC, and leading SaaS angel investors.

Primo keeps track of and manages your entire IT infrastructure, such as of deploy and configuring a fleet of devices, device purchasing, MDM (Mobile Device Management), security solutions, insurance, and support.

In addition, all these details are in sync with your HR system, and all the billing is transparent and centralized. 

Its centralized console helps to even onboardings and offboarding without admin and integrates with Google or Microsoft 365 to gain 360 visibilities. All these activities are managed by single IT personnel from a centralized dashboard.

 Most SMBs, either from the IT sector or other industries, rely on third parties for IT support, or it would be expensive for small organizations to recruit the IT team or IT manager for such companies; Primo can be beneficial.

Primo wants to be the companion SaaS for small companies that bundle many products in the same platform, so they don’t want to run with different vendors to cover their IT support activities.