Digg, the iconic social and link sharing website, is relaunching with a new AI-powered platform, marking a significant comeback for the brand that was once dubbed the "homepage of the internet." Co-founder Kevin Rose, along with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is spearheading the new venture, which aims to build a community-first social platform that leverages artificial intelligence to create a better user experience.

The new Digg platform is the result of Rose's brainstorming sessions with Ohanian, design and product executive Justin Mezzell, and other industry experts, including Blogger and Twitter co-founder Ev Williams. The team is convinced that AI can help build a better social platform, one that prioritizes community engagement and removes the "janitorial work" of moderators, allowing them to focus on creating a positive and vibrant community culture.

The relaunched Digg platform will feature a community-driven approach, where users can share links, comment, and vote on content. The most popular content will be showcased on the homepage, which Rose and Mezzell hope will once again become the go-to destination for internet users. However, unlike the old Digg, the new platform will focus on creating smaller, niche communities that can surface and share content relevant to their interests.

Rose and Ohanian are keenly aware of the challenges faced by social media platforms, particularly in terms of community management and moderation. They believe that AI can be a game-changer in this regard, automating tasks such as spam filtering and policy enforcement, allowing moderators to focus on more creative and community-building activities. The platform will also feature AI-powered tools that enable users to build and customize their own communities, creating a more dynamic and engaging experience.

One of the key challenges facing the new Digg team is figuring out how to reward and promote users for their contributions to the platform. Mezzell acknowledges that the traditional metrics, such as follower counts and "Digg" scores, can create bad incentives and instead wants to focus on recognizing users for their insightful comments, encouraging behavior, and humor. The team is still exploring ways to achieve this, but is committed to creating a platform that values and respects its users.

The relaunched Digg platform is still in its early stages, with the initial launch featuring a limited set of features. However, Rose and Mezzell are committed to iterating quickly and building the platform alongside their users. They hope to create a sense of nostalgia and familiarity for old Digg users, while also introducing new features and capabilities that will set the platform apart from its competitors.

The comeback of Digg is significant, not just for the brand itself, but also for the broader social media landscape. As platforms like Reddit and Twitter continue to evolve, the new Digg offers a fresh perspective on what a community-driven social platform can look like. With its focus on AI-powered moderation, community engagement, and user recognition, Digg is poised to make a meaningful impact on the social media landscape.