Traders gather at the post where Snap Inc. is traded, just before the opening bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., May 11, 2017.
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 27 (Reuters) - Snap Inc (SNAP.N) is shutting its division focused on making augmented reality (AR) services for businesses within months of its launch, as the ad-dependent social media company struggles in a tough economy.
Snap, the maker of photo messaging app Snapchat, started AR Enterprise Services (ARES) in March, looking to diversify its revenue beyond digital advertising that makes up the vast majority of its revenue.
CEO Spiegel said rising adoption of generative artificial intelligence made it hard for Snap to differentiate its offering that allowed customers to use its AR tech on their sites as companies created their own experiences.
Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Brendan McDermid, Evan Spiegel, Spiegel, Chavi Mehta, Shinjini
Organizations:
New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Enterprise Services, Thomson
Locations:
New York, U.S, Bengaluru