BuzzFeed Debuts AI Slop Apps In Bid For New Revenue

BuzzFeed launches AI apps BF Island and Conjure through Branch Office. Here is what the media giant is betting on — and why it matters.
Matilda
BuzzFeed Debuts AI Slop Apps In Bid For New Revenue
BuzzFeed Is Betting Big on AI Apps — And It Is More Interesting Than You Think If you have been following the slow, painful decline of digital media over the past decade, then the name BuzzFeed probably triggers a familiar mix of nostalgia and skepticism. The company that once built its empire on viral quizzes and addictive listicles is now taking a sharp turn into artificial intelligence. On March 17, 2026, at one of the most high-profile tech and culture events on the calendar, BuzzFeed announced a new AI-powered venture that its leadership hopes will define its next chapter. The question on everyone's mind: is this a genuine reinvention, or just another attempt to slap a trending label on a struggling business? What Is Branch Office and Why Does It Matter At the heart of BuzzFeed's new direction is a spin-off company called Branch Office. Introduced by co-founder and CEO Jonah Peretti at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, Branch Office is positioned as an inc…