The Future of Content Curation: How Faves and AI Are Transforming Media

The Future of Content Curation: How Faves and AI Are Transforming Media

In today's digital age, where messaging and link sharing are the most common user behaviors, content curation has become a vital part of our online experience. Surprisingly, there has been no dedicated platform solely focused on content curation. This dilemma can be seen as a chicken and egg situation - there's no content because there are no viewers, and there are no viewers because there is no content. However, Faves is aiming to change that by building a platform that caters to both content creators and their audience.

Faves recognized that people care about content recommendations from two main groups: those they admire and their friends. By tapping into these two influential circles, Faves aims to create a community where users can discover and share their favorite content. In April 2021, Faves launched as an invite-only product, allowing them to learn about their users and improve the overall experience as they scale up. They handpicked the first 100 curators and gradually opened the app to 20–50 users per day. The response has been remarkable, with users posting frequently. One reason for this high activity could be the low barrier to entry for curating content. Unlike creating original content, curating content is much easier and less intimidating.

While Faves is revolutionizing content curation, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the media industry as a whole. Media companies heavily rely on monetizing creativity, but the creative process itself is inherently unpredictable. To mitigate this risk, media companies often seek ways to de-risk creativity. De-risking strategies can flatten the potential upside of creative work but also significantly dampen the downsides.

One effective de-risking strategy is summarizing other people's work. It is easier to summarize something interesting than it is to create it from scratch. Another strategy is finding content arbitrage - taking a piece of content that performed well elsewhere and reformatting it for your target audience. Early Buzzfeed, for instance, found success by rewriting popular Reddit posts as listicles, guaranteeing viral engagement. Creating a format is another way to structure creativity, making it more accessible and less like alchemy. Additionally, making content shorter and shallower reduces complexity, making it easier to produce. Lastly, creating sequels or remixing existing content eliminates the need to come up with something entirely new.

While these de-risking strategies have been effective for human creators, they also make it easier for AI to automate content creation. Summary-based media products, shorter pieces, and content arbitrage are all prime targets for automation. However, this doesn't mean that human creativity will become obsolete. In fact, individual writers will gain more leverage to create their own media products, with cost structures resembling software rather than traditional media. This shift allows writers to dedicate more time to research, gathering new facts, and writing longer, more engaging articles that are less amenable to automation.

Despite the potential opportunities, there is also risk for writers who currently produce de-risked types of editorial content as part of their day job at larger companies. To mitigate this risk, it is crucial for writers to learn how to use AI-powered tools today to enhance their leverage and create exceptional work. By embracing these tools, writers can take advantage of the changing landscape and carve out their own unique space in the media industry.

In conclusion, the future of content curation and media as a whole is being shaped by innovative platforms like Faves and the transformative power of AI. By catering to the needs of both content creators and their audience, Faves is building a community-driven platform that revolutionizes content curation. Simultaneously, AI is enabling writers to create more media products independently, blurring the lines between traditional media and software. To thrive in this evolving landscape, writers must embrace AI tools and leverage their unique skills to create exceptional work.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Embrace content curation: Start curating content that you find interesting and share it with your audience. Become a trusted source of recommendations and build your own community around curated content.

• 2. Learn AI-powered tools: Familiarize yourself with AI-powered tools that can enhance your creative process. Experiment with summarization algorithms, content formatting tools, and other automation technologies to streamline your workflow and increase productivity.

• 3. Focus on in-depth, original content: While automation may be on the rise, there will always be a demand for high-quality, original content that cannot be replicated by AI. Invest time in researching and writing longer, more engaging articles that showcase your unique insights and expertise.

By incorporating these actionable tips into your content creation process, you can stay ahead of the curve and thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of content curation and media.