Airchat, Naval Ravikant's social media app built around audio recordings, which the app transcribes, relaunches on iOS and Android; the app is invite-only

TechCrunch 2024-04-15 Anthony Ha

Context & Ripple Effects

Airchat’s return puts a transcript-first format into a social-audio category that has previously emphasized live conversation and later reuse. Twitter’s addition of Spaces recordings and Callin’s tools for turning live audio into podcasts show the earlier push to make spoken discussion persist beyond the moment.

The invite-only rollout makes this a controlled test of whether voice posts paired with text can create a distinct social habit across the two major mobile platforms.

First-order effects

Airchat is again available to invited iOS and Android users, giving the app an immediate distribution path while limiting participation through invitations.
Its recording-and-transcription interface makes spoken posts readable as well as listenable, changing the consumption format available to its early community.

Second-order effects

The relaunch tests whether social-audio products need text output and asynchronous consumption—not only live rooms or recordings—to hold users’ attention.
Invite-only access concentrates early growth in referrals, so the initial signal will reflect network density and novelty as much as broad-market demand.

Third-order effects

If transcript-first voice feeds gain traction, social platforms may increasingly treat audio as an input format while text remains the searchable, skimmable layer.
The broader category could shift from standalone live-audio networks toward voice features embedded in general social and messaging products; adoption beyond an invite-only cohort remains uncertain.

The trend: Social platforms are recasting voice from a live-only medium into content that can be read, revisited, and shared asynchronously.

Discussion

@anildash Anil Dash on threads
The pro-fascist VCs loved clubhouse as part of their attack on any legitimate journalism or critical voices, because they could choose who to fund and platform, just as on Substack, where they went all-in on the culture war and things like attacking trans folks. …
@gergelyorosz_ Gergely Orosz on threads
Been invited to a new social app that is... audio-only? It's called Airchat. I appreciate the innovation. I just don't have time for it anymore. In 2020, I tried Clubhouse b/c I was craving any form of human connection thanks lockdown. After lockdowns, had no time for it eit…
@mehtology Ivan Mehta on threads
At this point, I won't rule out the possibility of Automattic acquiring both Clubhouse and AirChat.
@alexheath Alex Heath on threads
Adam Neumann just launched a new real estate company and I just got invited to a buzzy, audio-only social networking app. What year are we in?
@aniketmishralive Aniket Mishra on threads
I started reusing threads but Airchat seems the new shining object syndrome. What's should i do?
@khoa Khoa Phan on threads
Oh Airchat not another audio social network... I have PTSD from Clubhouse 😅
@hsia_5 Joe Hsia on threads
Airchat is like Clubhouse+, Threads with voice, and you get to hear Naval. Really good UX.
@benjamin_goggin_ Benjamin Goggin on threads
Follow me on airchat. Im pushing the aural envelope over there.
@cahnore Connor on threads
someone invite me to airchat so i can use it for 3 days and then leave
@metaend.eth @metaend.eth on threads
How is airchat better than say matrix, telegram or discord? Or any other messaging app 🤔 airchat
@wongmjane Jane Manchun Wong on threads
Airchat, a social app where the only way to input text is through voice. Reminds me of Clubhouse a little, except it's asynchronous
@martyswant Marty Swant on x
I've been wanting someone to make an audio-focused app for years! Excited to try out Airchat and equally excited to see @anthonyha's byline back at @TechCrunch!
@greghkahn Greg Kahn on x
Airchat is being compared to Clubhouse by many Early days. I'm still on the fence.
@aerocles @aerocles on x
Love Airchat so far and I don't think it's anything like Clubhouse. Clubhouse intentionally created a disparity amongst its users. There was a clear class system of hosts/participants and audience. It's much more like Twitter but all voice tweets
@padamchopra_ Padam Chopra on x
New @getairchat for Android is now live on the Play Store! 🎉 A refreshed concept and we've completely rebuilt the app from scratch to deliver a seamless experience. Check it out at https://www.air.chat/...
@bwinterrose Britton Winterrose on x
This feels like meeting my neighbors but in a good way. Social media with true humanity. @naval this is a W [image]
@stevejang Steve Jang on x
timing is so important and the all-new @getairchat app has their NLP and streaming feed magic now in the wild for everyone. props to @naval @BrianNorgard @ikbarber @0xSigil and team! dm me for invites if you want to take it for a spin.
@ryan_waas WAAS on x
Okay so, the new Airchat is impressive, I did not expect it to be this good. A lot are referring to it as a social walkie-talkie. It makes sense why Naval built this for himself. It's invite only, directions at end of thread if you want one. Some initial findings: [image]
@brettdash_ Brett Dashevsky on x
Some quick thoughts on Airchat ... [video]
@businessbarista Alex Lieberman on x
Airchat feels like a walkie-talkie on steroids. Instead of 8-year-old Alex playing hide-and-seek with his best friend, 30-year-old Alex is sending his voice to the global frequency. And I'm kind of digging it.
@iamjasonlevin Jason Levin on x
I just got marriage advice from @naval If you're building a social app, this is the blueprint Talk to early users engage hang out and have fun Bullish on @getairchat [image]
@konrad_it Konrad Iturbe on x
aight this is it who's got invites to airchat
@luke_metro @luke_metro on x
NatSec airchat is something else [image]
@umunbeing Abhinav Singhal on x
@GamgeeSamyak ... You speak or open video while posting on @getairchat Their freaking good LLM Transcribes voice into text, Check how it got @naval's name right From my indian accent And then gave options to tag him Airchat is automating the whole process. What @Snapchat did to v…
@luke_metro @luke_metro on x
This was really hard to dictate; I think airchat finally figured out a solution to the bot problem [image]
@buildanything Ishtiaq Rahman on x
Not sure if I should try and get an Airchat invite or ride it out like the clubhouse hype. It is difficult to write off Naval. #airchat
@bndkt Benedikt Müller on x
Thanks to @jamonholmgren, you can find me on Airchat now. BUT: I already have the feeling that this isn't my platform. Just too many situations where I use my phone but can not turn on sound or speak 🤷‍♂️ Just put the kids to bed, now they're asleep and I'm waiting to make sure..…
@whyrohitwhy Rohit Gupta on x
Just amazed how @getairchat can understand and translate multiple languages simultaneously! How did you come up with this @naval Definitely futuristic vibes are coming 💯🤩🤩 PS: If you need an invitation hmu on dms. #airchat #letsconnect on #DominateTwitter spaces 7-9 [image]
@wynnlemmons Wynn on x
Airchat is pretty sick. But I wonder what the defensibility is vs. Twitter introducing audio functionality.
@_amangaur__ Aman Gaur on x
Airchat is so much fun. It feels so close to the real world conversations and you can actually talk to people who you never would have gotten an opportunity to in the real world!
@alexdrocca Alex Rocca on x
This new Airchat app where it's basically Twitter but with AUDIO VOICE MEMOS which are transcribed to text but the accompanying audio still plays as you scroll... a terrifying concept for many of us with Gay Voice™ [video]
@amandanat Amanda Natividad on x
Him: What? Me: Not talking to you. Him: You need AirPods for your AirChat. Me (balancing a baby on my lap while feeding): No.
@umunbeing Abhinav Singhal on x
Hey guys Try @naval navikant's new app I believe @getairchat is a competition to @x which threads never was. Its not a clone! Its the next generation, Airchat is Web3/4/5 level change in social networks. Here's an invite 👇🏻 https://www.air.chat/...
@theethanding Ethan Ding on x
TIL that bc airchat syncs your twitter and phone number - you'll be told what your contact's anonymous twitter accounts are 2 people i know have been outed by airchat gottem
@_jairath Abhishek on x
How is it that Meta hasn't tried a voice first social yet? Surely there hasn't been an out and out success yet but Clubhouse gained good traction and Spaces is still here and doing well, and now there's Airchat
@yanatweets Yana Welinder on x
Playing with Airchat. Who's there? [image]
@amandanat Amanda Natividad on x
@wking__ Haha I feel this. It does kinda force me into mindful use, which I appreciate. Easy to passively scroll on text based social media even while you're busy. Harder to lazily engage on AirChat, IMO.
@vinilvasani Vinil Vasani on x
Is Airchat like BeReal but for audio? 🤔
@concept_central Shea on x
Scrolling on Airchat blasts my watch with constant Now Playing updates lol [video]
@davidjchie David Chie on x
Airchat feels much more authentic and intentional than Twitter.
@jeremiahprummer Jeremiah Prummer on x
I'll still be here when you all come back from airchat.
@ladywithsarcasm Shilpa Sharma on x
Airchat, led by Naval Ravikant and Brian Norgard, is a revamped social media app focusing on verbal communication through audio posts. So yes, it's more of a talking instead of just texting.
@printfls @printfls on x
airchat was good months ago when the UI was different & naval was still posting jobs looking for a SwiftUI dev to hammer the app, now that the thing has gone viral it has attracted the threadbois
@ankit_ck Ankit CK on x
a fresh new entrant to social media apps where our fleeting attention is the grand prize. Another platform to scream into the void. Only this time, you don't type your despair, you speak it. Direct from your vocal cords to the world's eardrums. I'm @ ankitck on airchat btw
@arjunkhemani Arjun Khemani on x
. @naval's end goal for @getairchat [image]
@getairchat @getairchat on x
An all-new version of Airchat is now available for iOS and Android. If you were a user of the old app, you should be able to use the same phone number to sign up for the new one. Otherwise, ask a friend on the app for an invite! Download here: https://www.air.chat/...

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