Feedly Experiences Technical Issues Amid AI Pivot

Feedly, the world’s largest standalone RSS reader, has been experiencing technical issues for over a week, leaving its users frustrated. The company’s web app has been slow to the point of being unusable, with users taking to Reddit to express their concerns. The slowdown has affected both free and paid users, with many reporting that their support requests have been ignored.

As the market for RSS readers continues to shrink, Feedly has been working to shift its focus to artificial intelligence (AI). The company has been promoting its AI-powered features, including its ability to track emerging threats and provide tailored intelligence. However, the latest issues have raised questions about whether Feedly is still committed to its core RSS customers.

Feedly’s CEO, Edwin Khodabakchian, reassured TechCrunch that RSS remains a priority for the company. ‘Despite our pivot to cyber threat intelligence, fixing the basic RSS functionality is still a priority because our CTI community uses the news-reading capability,’ he said.

Khodabakchian attributed the slowdown to a bug that affected users who had a lot of folders in their accounts. A fix was released on Friday, but the company is still confirming whether it has resolved the issue for all users. The CEO also confirmed that the company’s classic app was ‘retired’ two weeks ago because it no longer met some iOS and Android requirements.

The app had only a few hundred active users, and the company did not notify them before shutting it down. Khodabakchian also confirmed that the company is investigating issues with its iOS app, which prevents it from loading. He promised that the issue would be fixed quickly and that the company still actively invests in its main iOS and Android app.

The company’s struggles come as the market for RSS readers continues to shrink. Many users have turned to dedicated news apps, such as Apple News, or social media platforms to stay up-to-date with the latest news. However, Feedly remains a popular choice for many users, and the company’s commitment to its core customers will be crucial in determining its future success.

Feedly’s focus on AI-powered features is a sign that the company is looking to the future and trying to stay ahead of the competition. However, the latest issues have raised questions about whether the company is still committed to its core customers. As the market for RSS readers continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Feedly adapts and whether it can regain the trust of its users.