The AI graveyard: a running list of projects and startups that didn't make it
From Apple's repeatedly delayed Siri AI to OpenAI's messy "super app" launch, here's a look at the AI projects that shut down or missed expectations.
TL;DR
- Character.ai, a chatbot platform, filed for bankruptcy after facing legal and operational challenges.
- Privacy-focused AI assistant Ollie announced its shutdown due to difficulties in growth and capital raising.
- Approximately 42% of corporate AI initiatives are abandoned due to issues like funding, technical hurdles, or weak user demand.
- OpenAI's attempt to create a ChatGPT 'super app' faced user criticism and was rolled back, while features from discontinued apps like ChatGPT Atlas and Operator were integrated into ChatGPT.
- Apple's highly anticipated AI-powered Siri faced significant delays and engineering issues, leading to a $250 million settlement.
- Microsoft's 'Recall' feature faced privacy and security backlash, with concerns persisting despite delays and redesigns.
- AI hardware ventures like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 encountered significant performance issues and market reception problems.
- Other AI products and platforms such as Relay, Notion Mail, Huxe, Yupp, and Figgs AI have also shut down due to competition, cost, or lack of product-market fit.