Feedly Faces User Backlash Over Slow Performance Amid AI Transition

Feedly, the leading standalone RSS reader with 15 million users, is currently grappling with significant technical difficulties that have left many of its subscribers frustrated. Reports have surfaced indicating the web app has been sluggish and, in some cases, entirely unusable for over a week.

Paying users have expressed their discontent, claiming that the company has not adequately addressed their support requests. The performance issues have been particularly pronounced on the web app, with users describing it as 'extremely slow' on platforms like Reddit. Additionally, the iOS app has faced its own set of malfunctions, and the older version of Feedly’s mobile app was abruptly discontinued weeks ago.

Despite these challenges, Feedly’s CEO, Edwin Khodabakchian, has assured users that the company remains committed to resolving these issues while transitioning towards a stronger focus on AI technologies. He emphasized that maintaining efficient RSS functionality is still a priority, especially for their cyber threat intelligence community that relies on the news-reading capabilities.

Khodabakchian attributed the slowdown to a bug affecting users with multiple folders, and a fix was rolled out last Friday. However, the company is still verifying whether this solution has effectively addressed the problem for all users. Regarding the app's retirement, he noted that the classic version was removed due to not meeting updated requirements, and existing users were not notified prior to its shutdown.

As Feedly navigates these technical hurdles, the company's commitment to its core RSS customer base remains under scrutiny, especially in light of its pivot towards AI-driven services.

Source: techcrunch.com