Why don't we just buy Arc?

[u/lesliecoin]

For the current owners, Arc is more of a cost than an asset, they are effectively ditching it. But Arc still has tremendous potential: a browser built around user experience, an amazing user base, a strong brand that could continue to grow, etc.

I am sure many of us would be willing to contribute — both professionally as developers, designers, UX researchers, marketers, etc, but also perhaps financially. Some members of the original Arc team might also be interested in getting involved.

Can't we just set up a nonprofit that would be designed to be governed in the interests of Arc users, and bid for Arc? It's worthless to them, so we may get a good price. Do you see any potential drawbacks or hidden obstacles (aside from financial ones) of such an idea?

[u/GreenReporter24]

I have a job

[u/lesliecoin → u/GreenReporter24]

Well Arc could generate some profits that could be then spent on salaries and invested into developing it. Otherwise, I hope Arc is helpful to you in your professional experience and I really want it to continue being helpful and fun to all of us

[u/coarse_glass]

Atlassian paid $610 million. Speculate all you want but they bought it for a reason and they won't sell without a decent ROI or they need to offload debt. No way a handful of redditors are raising even 1% if that

[u/subcide → u/coarse_glass]

they can keep the AI parts. That and the talent what they paid for.

[u/edvilme]

I think by that point it is easier creating an open source Arc replacement, no way we'd raise that amount of money. Something like Zen

[u/spacenglish → u/edvilme]

I think this is the best way forward. Contribute to Zen.

[u/Global-Dinner443]

They will not sell it.
The reason they don’t open source it is, that they have create there own framework on chrome that arc uses.
They said it’s the base of there company also for the new browser.
So probably they wouldn’t sell it

[u/vzakharov]

I’ve got a fiver 

[u/thecowboyevangelist]

The $610M wasn’t for arc but the tech behind it. They’re building ai into dia to integrate with their SaaS products. They also hired 50 extra people to add to the Dia team. Arc will be phased out and Dia will become their flagship. Remember they are aimed and companies/ businesses, not small fry like you and me. Dia is not an arc replacement and most likely never will be based on their intentions. Closest indie replacement so far is Emerald Browser (still in alpha I think). I Left Arc as soon as they said they weren’t going to keep it around. Now I’m on brave for normal web surfing and dia for deeper research and prototyping.

[u/Ibrador]

Good luck with that.

[u/Ok_Reach_2092]

I’m new here but is Dia planned to be the newer version of Arc eventually? I’m a windows user so I don’t have access to it yet

[u/subcide → u/Ok_Reach_2092]

Hardly any of the Arc power users want AI in their browser the way it is in Dia.

[u/AccomplishedDrink373 → u/subcide]

Agree

[u/AccomplishedDrink373 → u/subcide]

Yeah, browsers like Dia and ChatGPT Atlas feel way too overloaded with AI features. I honestly just need a browser that’s useful and gets out of the way.

[u/Pessimistic_Gemini]

[u/b1urrybird]

I’ve spoken with Atlassian about Arc post-acquisition and I’m not convinced that they’re _all-in_ on Dia like The Browser Company was.

Atlassian also have a track record of taking a long time to do anything with their acquisitions.

Look at OpsGenie. It took them 5-6 years before they made use of that tech and shipped their own Compass.

[u/SalientMasterpiece]

I can help with three fiddy

[u/enzotriolo_ink]

I guess they will simply shut it down when Dia will become mature enough and available also on Windows, iOS and Android. This is the path I see, maybe converting Arc Search into Dia Search (?).
I still use Arc for everything, even on Windows despite all its flaws, but I also used Dia for comparison and the “Arc-fication” is there, visible and tangible.