Bluesky’s new CEO wants a big tent, not a bubble
Summary
Neelie Patel interviews Tony Schneider, the new CEO of Blue Sky, about balancing the company’s consumer app with its open AT Protocol. They discuss Schneider’s long-term vision for an interoperable social ecosystem, the shift toward private communities, and distributed moderation. Schneider draws parallels to his time at WordPress, emphasizing a decentralized future where Blue Sky serves as an on-ramp rather than a walled garden.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Tony Schneider joins as Blue Sky CEO
Tony's background and transition from interim to permanent CEO
Decision-making philosophy: reversible vs irreversible choices
Blue Sky's team structure and scaling the Atmosphere protocol
Distributed moderation and composable safety systems
Expanding the protocol to support private communities
Leadership style: jazz analogies and collaborative culture
Blue Sky's identity as a text-first microblogging network
Why Blue Sky avoids video and embraces an open web approach
Divesting control: The Swiss nonprofit and IETF standardization
Monetization strategy: Revenue sharing without crypto
AI's role in development and lowering barriers for builders
At Protocol vs ActivityPub: Coexistence and federation
Addressing political polarization and future growth
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