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

Airchat is a new social media app that encourages users to “just talk.” — A previous version of Airchat was released last year …

TechCrunch 2024-04-14 Anthony Ha

Context & Ripple Effects

Airchat enters a social-audio lineage in which Twitter first tested a Clubhouse-style Spaces beta and later added recordings for Spaces hosts. Its distinction in this coverage is making recorded speech transcribed by default, rather than centering live rooms.

The iOS-and-Android return broadens the app’s device reach, while invitations keep access controlled during its early rollout.

First-order effects

Airchat can acquire users across both major mobile platforms, but its invite-only model limits immediate access and lets the company control the pace of community growth.
Automatic transcription makes each spoken post available in text form, changing the product from audio-only consumption into a mixed voice-and-reading experience.

Second-order effects

The product tests whether transcription can reduce the convenience gap between voice-first social apps and text feeds, where users can scan posts without listening.
Invitation gating makes early engagement and retention—not merely installs—the key signal for Airchat; the subsequent 30K-plus downloads reported after the relaunch provide an initial, limited read on demand.

Third-order effects

If voice capture and text rendering prove complementary, social products may increasingly treat speech as an input method while preserving text as the durable, searchable consumption layer.
The pattern would shift competition away from live-audio formats alone toward interfaces that make spoken contributions easier to browse, revisit, and distribute.

The trend: Social platforms are experimenting with voice as a low-friction creation format while using transcription to retain the accessibility and utility of text feeds.

Discussion

@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
@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/...
@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]
@_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]
@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…
@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.
@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
@konrad_it Konrad Iturbe on x
aight this is it who's got invites to airchat
@vinilvasani Vinil Vasani on x
Is Airchat like BeReal but for audio? 🤔
@greghkahn Greg Kahn on x
Airchat is being compared to Clubhouse by many Early days. I'm still on the fence.
@concept_central Shea on x
Scrolling on Airchat blasts my watch with constant Now Playing updates lol [video]
@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!
@wynnlemmons Wynn on x
Airchat is pretty sick. But I wonder what the defensibility is vs. Twitter introducing audio functionality.
@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]
@_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!
@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]
@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
@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]
@luke_metro @luke_metro on x
NatSec airchat is something else [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.
@davidjchie David Chie on x
Airchat feels much more authentic and intentional than Twitter.
@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.
@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]
@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]
@jeremiahprummer Jeremiah Prummer on x
I'll still be here when you all come back from airchat.
@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
@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
@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.
@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
@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/...
@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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