Automattic vs team.blue

Bluesky Plans Payments, Not Ads, for Monetization

At TechCrunch Disrupt, Bluesky CEO Toni Schneider and COO Rose Wang outlined plans to introduce payments within the coming months, positioning commerce and fundraising as alternatives to advertising. Schneider, who became CEO in March 2026, emphasized the decentralized network's existing organic buying and selling activity. Wang highlighted Bluesky's Public Benefit Corporation status and its infrastructure preventing user lock-in, contrasting with traditional social networks. The payments feature aims to support creators and users across the network, including other apps built on the AT Protocol. This strategy reflects a broader vision of disrupting the infrastructure layer rather than building just another app, with revenue flowing directly to value creators.

• Bluesky plans to introduce payments within the coming months.
• CEO Toni Schneider and COO Rose Wang announced the plans at TechCrunch Disrupt.
• Bluesky is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC).

Bluesky Expands AI-Powered Attie App for Building Sites

Bluesky announced at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 the expansion of its experimental Attie platform, enabling users to build interactive web experiences like games, quizzes, and websites using AI. Attie, initially focused on custom feed creation, now supports 'social vibe coding', where creators can build for their communities. The experiences run on the AT Protocol and can leverage Bluesky's distribution network of 47 million users, addressing the problem of audience discovery. Bluesky CEO Toni Schneider highlighted the shift from solo to collaborative creation, with suggestions based on public profiles. The platform allows bring-your-own AI models or open-weight options. Additionally, Bluesky is progressing on private data support, currently in alpha testing, aimed at boosting developer adoption. This move is part of Bluesky's broader strategy to reinvigorate its network by focusing on developers and communities.

• Bluesky announced the expansion of Attie to allow creating websites, quizzes, games, and polls.
• The tool supports 'social vibe coding' for building interactive experiences for communities.
• Attie runs on the AT Protocol and connects creators to their ATProto identity.

AI Leaders Discuss Pacing Frontier AI Development

A TechCrunch video feature discusses the proposal by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to 'pace the frontier' of AI development, following a doomsday warning from an Anthropic researcher. The plan involves independent safety evaluators and coordination among AI labs in democratic countries. It has received industry support from companies like OpenAI and Google, but also pushback from Nvidia's Jensen Huang, who opposes slowing down AI advancements. The video also covers other topics, including WordPress parent Automattic's boardroom coup and major deals of the week. The discussion explores the feasibility of companies agreeing on what slowing down means and who would enforce it.

• Dario Amodei outlined a plan to 'pace the frontier' of AI development.
• The plan includes independent safety evaluators and coordination between AI labs in democratic countries.
• Nvidia's Jensen Huang pushed back against the proposal.

Belgian Construction Tech Spotable Raises €4M for Expansion

Spotable, a Ghent-based construction technology startup, has secured €4 million in seed funding. The investment, arranged by The Harbour, includes participation from Jonas Dhaenens (team.blue), Christophe Morbee (NewSchool.vc), the family office of Hilde Cloostermans and Philip Corens, and Arne Vandendriessche. Founded in 2024, Spotable develops AI-powered software for roofers to digitize measuring and quoting processes. The platform uses geographic data to create 3D building models, calculate material quantities, generate quotes, and support ordering. The company plans to use the funds for product development and international expansion, targeting France and Germany after initial success in Belgium and the Netherlands, and is also entering the US market.

• Spotable raised €4 million in seed funding.
• The round was arranged by investment broker The Harbour.
• Investors include Jonas Dhaenens, Christophe Morbee, and the family office of Hilde Cloostermans and Philip Corens.

AI at the Core: behind the scenes at team.blue's AI transformation

New blog post published on September 18, 2026, detailing team.blue's AI transformation efforts.

Evolving for Impact: team.blue's 2025-26 Impact Report

team.blue published its 2025-26 Impact Report, highlighting its sustainability and social impact initiatives.