
Exclusive: SmartNews releases new subscription app called NewsArc
Why it matters: The new app — called NewsArc — is meant to offer heavily engaged news readers a more personalized experience without putting them in echo chambers.
How it works: NewsArc uses AI to filter, identify and serve news stories based on years of reading pattern data from SmartNews, chief technology officer Cory Ondrejka says.
The app relies on a proprietary large language model built by SmartNews to promote stories that it thinks support better comprehension and meaningful engagement, per SmartNews' product senior vice president Jason Holtman.
The app will be available to mobile and iPad users on Apple's iOS operating system and Google Android mobile users in the U.S. beginning Tuesday.
Between the lines: SmartNews relies on direct relationships with more than 3,000 publishers to supply content on its free app. It pays those publishers through a revenue-share agreement to have access to that content.
NewsArc will rely on content from those publishers for its app as well. Like SmartNews, it hires human editors to assist with curation, in addition to AI.
Ondrejka says the company decided to build a separate app to make it easier to focus on quality recommendations.
Zoom out: SmartNews, which launched in Japan in 2012, has gained a sizable audience in the U.S. since launching here six years ago. But the U.S. market "is far more polarized," Holtman says.
"There is far more outrage and attention reinforcement products," where "outrage is the primary driver of attention."
By the numbers: The company, which is private, does not disclose the size of its U.S. audience, but SimilarWeb estimates that it's in the top 50 news apps on Apple's iOS in the U.S.
SmartNews has raised more than $400 million to fuel its expansion. Its latest public funding round in 2021 valued the company at over $2 billion post-money.
The bottom line: "We actually think it's really important for people to have a shared view of the news," Holtman says. "We actually approach (curation) starting with, what do we think are the most important stories going on in the U.S.? And everybody sees the same set of them."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Android Authority
4 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Deal: No one should pay full price for an Apple iPad A16 anymore
After its March 2025 release, the Apple iPad A16 has almost never been at its full $349 price point. So much so that we would say no one should pay that much for it anymore. The right price to pay is $299, which is what it has cost most of the time since its launch, and what you can get it for today. Buy the Apple iPad A16 for $299 ($50 off) This offer is available from Amazon. The discount applies to all color versions: Blue, Pink, Silver, and Yellow. I have honestly been recommending the Apple iPad A16 to friends and family left and right. Value per dollar, nothing really beats it, especially if you can get it for $299. At this price, you'll get a very capable tablet that can handle nearly anything a casual user can throw at it, and for a price that significantly undercuts the competition. While considered a 'budget tablet' the Apple iPad A16 comes with an Apple A16 processor, which is capable enough to run pretty much any app or game. I own the previous-generation base iPad, and have used it to edit short videos and RAW photos without a single hiccup. I also game on it. This means it will easily handle pretty much any other simpler process, and this one is even more powerful than mine. It comes with 4GB of RAM, which isn't much, but again, I've been using mine without issues. Apple optimizes its hardware and software very well. The only downside with this tablet is that it doesn't support Apple Intelligence. You'll need at least an A17 for that. That said, not everyone cares so much about AI. You can already use it on other devices, such as your computer or smartphone. What's nice about the Apple iPad A16 is that it has twice the base storage, at 128 GB, compared to its predecessor. This means you'll have more room for apps, games, photos, files, etc. This one also has a slightly larger 11-inch display with a sharp 2,360 x 1,640p resolution, making it a great multimedia screen. Additionally, it supports the Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil First Generation, so you can also use it for taking notes, drawing, and more. Like all other iPads, the A16 model is very nicely built. It has a metal construction that is now iconic. It looks and feels great. And it comes in some really fun colors these days. Battery life stays the same at up to 10 hours, which isn't impressive anymore, but is still really good. While not an all-time low, the $299 discounted price gets pretty close to it. We've seen it go down to $279.99 in the past, but only once and for a hot second. We've also reported a $277.78 deal in the past, but that was only for the Pink version, and again, it went away very quickly. If you're looking for a good deal and can't wait for a better discount, it's pretty safe to get this tablet for $299 right now. You won't save much if you wait. If you absolutely want a non-Apple device, here's our list of the best Android tablets. There are plenty of options. Follow


CNBC
5 minutes ago
- CNBC
Asia markets set to open lower as investors weigh Trump's vow on fresh chip tariffs
Asia-Pacific markets are set to start the day lower, following U.S. President Donald Trump's vow to impose a 100% tariff on imports of semiconductors and chips to the U.S., but companies that are "building in the United States" will be exempted. Details such as how much a company needs to be manufacturing in the U.S. to qualify for the tariff exemption were not immediately clear. Good morning from Singapore. Investors will be keeping a close watch on chip stocks following U.S. President Donald Trump's vow to impose 100% tariffs on imported semiconductors and chips, unless they are made by companies "building in the United States." Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open lower, with the futures contract in Chicago at 40,785 while its counterpart in Osaka last traded at 40,790, against the index's last close of 40,794.86. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 24,903, pointing to a weaker open compared with the HSI's Wednesday close of 24,910.63. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was set to start the day lower with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,779, compared with its last close of 8,843.70. — Amala Balakrishner President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that he would slap a 100% duty on imports of semiconductors and chips – with an exception for companies that are "building in the United States." "We're going to be putting a very large tariff on chips and semiconductors," he said, speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon. "But the good news for companies like Apple is if you're building in the United States or have committed to build, without question, committed to build in the United States, there will be no charge," Trump added. Shares of Apple advanced 3% in extended trading, fresh off a 5% gain in the regular session. Stock chart icon Apple shares in the past day – Kevin Breuninger, Darla Mercado All the three major averages finished with gains on Wednesday. The S&P 500 advanced 0.73% to finish at 6,345.06, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.21%, closing at 21,169.42. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also rose 81.38 points, or 0.18%, to end the day at 44,193.12. — Sean Conlon
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures waver as Trump's trade deadline nears
US stock futures wavered just above the flatline with President Trump's trade deadline fast approaching. Futures attached to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) ticked up 0.1%. Futures attached to the benchmark S&P 500 (ES=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) rose 0.2%. Trump's deadline for trade deals lands at 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday. The president has teed up sweeping tariffs to hit dozens of countries that have so far not negotiated trade agreements with the US, saying there are no plans to further delay hiking rates this time. Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs Apple (AAPL) shares climbed Wednesday afternoon as Trump and CEO Tim Cook announced the company would make a $100 billion investment in the US. As part of the deal, Apple will manufacture the cover glasses for iPhones and Apple Watches in Kentucky. The president also said at the press conference that he will eventually set a 100% tariff on semiconductors, but companies like Apple that commit to building in the US will be exempt from the tariff. Airbnb (ABNB), DoorDash (DASH), and Lyft (LYFT) reported earnings after the bell. DoorDash shares jumped on an upbeat forecast driven by resilient delivery demand. Airbnb and Lyft, meanwhile, fell on disappointing guidance. Stocks gained in day trading on Wednesday, buoyed by a slate of earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, including McDonald's (MCD) and Disney (DIS). The lead up to Apple's announcement of fresh investment in the US also boosted its stock and sent the Nasdaq higher. On Thursday, in addition to grappling with the latest trade policy shifts, Wall Street will receive new data on weekly jobless claims. The state of the labor market is in high focus following a disappointing July jobs report and downbeat revisions to the May and June jobs reports. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data