Curio secures funding for Rio, an AI news anchor featured in their app

The newsroom is evolving with the introduction of AI technology, as startups like Rio are aiming to enhance the news experience for consumers. Rio, an “AI news anchor” developed by the team behind Curio, is designed to help readers connect with stories and topics they are interested in from trustworthy sources.

The app, unveiled at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, has already garnered funding from Khosla Ventures and TED’s Chris Anderson. Rio utilizes AI technology to scan headlines from reputable papers and magazines like Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, curating daily news briefings that users can read or listen to.

Unlike AI-written articles, Rio’s AI technology focuses on providing accurate information from trusted publishers without fabricating content. The app also aims to prevent users from falling into an echo chamber by offering news that expands their understanding of various topics.

In addition to the daily briefing, Rio features an AI chatbot interface where users can ask about other topics of interest. The app has received positive feedback, with over 20,000 questions asked since its launch as a feature in Curio last May.

While it remains to be seen if Rio will become a standalone product, the app’s innovative approach to news consumption could potentially influence larger news aggregators in the future. With plans to launch publicly later this summer, Rio is currently in early access, requiring an invitation to join.