When SlideShare, the presentation-sharing service acquired by Scribd, launched in 2006, generative AI technology was much less advanced than it is today, and social networking platforms were just beginning to gain traction. Recognizing advances in AI and the growing desire for innovative ways to share documents, SlideShare founders Amit Ranjan (COO), Jonathan Butel (CTO), and Rashmi Sinha (CEO) are committed to building on this trend.
A new social document sharing platform named Jaunt was officially launched on Thursday. This closely mirrors SlideShare, where users can easily upload different types of files and interact with them through features like sharing and likes. Users can also follow their favorite creators.
One of the most notable differences is that Jaunt focuses more on the social sharing aspect, encouraging engagement and interaction between users. For example, Jaunt sets itself apart by allowing users to comment directly below individual posts. This can help foster a community where users can connect and exchange ideas.
The platform also features a vertical feed that showcases a variety of presentations and documents, from scientific slides and startup pitch decks to educational resources such as orientation materials and other helpful information. Users can choose from several categories including business, education, science, technology, and more.
Additionally, Jaunt uses hashtags similar to those used on other popular social media platforms. This allows users to explore trending topics and find content that matches their interests.
Image credit: Jaunt
Jaunt utilizes AI technologies such as Claude, Gemini, and OpenAI to assist users in the submission process. When a user uploads a file, AI generates a concise summary of the caption and suggests titles, categories, and relevant hashtags. AI will eventually also help Jaunt translate documents into different languages and summarize them for readers.
After testing Jaunt, it's clear that the platform has a lot of room for growth and improvement before it can compete with established players like SlideShare, Google, and Microsoft. According to SlideShare's website, the platform attracts approximately 80 million users each month and boasts more than 28 million uploads across 40 content categories.
The company plans to add more features in the future, including support for direct messaging, a verification system, and video embedding. Jaunt, which is currently run in-house, is considering monetization strategies such as a premium tier, and is open to incorporating advertising as well as investment from venture capitalists in the future.
Jaunt is currently only available on the web, but the company says it has optimized the mobile web version to allow users to explore new content by swiping left or right on their device.
Jaunt plans to release a mobile app within the next year.