Ting Tey

THE F1 ACCOUNT PUT A TIMING ON THE LIZARD 😭😭😭😭

RIP Social Apps, 2005-2023 As of iOS 18, friend-based contact sync apps are basically dead on arrival. The number of people consenting to the new permission has nose-dived—so there is no way to get density in a meaningful way. But as one door closes, another opens up: From the handful of dashboards I've seen, the retention rates on AI companion/girlfriend apps are extraordinary. Instinctually, I thought the entire space was bullshit. But it's now clear that the ability to craft relevant, empathetic responses to any user input is a powerful lever to activating users and entrenching them into a relationship, albeit artificial. For better or for worse, LLMs might be the new Contact Sync. If we can't find our friends on apps anymore, people will find something else to talk to.