UPDATE: Artisan AI, the San Francisco-based AI agent startup, is back on LinkedIn just days after being banned from the platform. CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack confirmed the reinstatement following discussions with LinkedIn’s enforcement team. This development is particularly significant for the burgeoning AI sector, as it underscores the evolving relationship between startups and major social networks.
In an unexpected twist, Artisan’s LinkedIn presence vanished late last week, sparking viral discussions on both LinkedIn and Twitter. All company profiles and posts displayed a “This post cannot be displayed” message. The ban was primarily due to concerns over Artisan’s use of LinkedIn’s name on its website and allegations of unauthorized data scraping, a violation of LinkedIn’s terms of service.
Carmichael-Jack explained, “Every startup inevitably has some kind of thing that comes back to bite them.” He clarified that contrary to rampant speculation, the ban was not connected to spamming activities by Artisan’s AI agents. Instead, the company quickly acted to address LinkedIn’s concerns, leading to its reinstatement.
Artisan AI, a graduate of Y Combinator, gained notoriety with its “Stop hiring humans” billboards, positioning itself as a disruptive force in the outbound sales market. The startup’s AI agent, Ava, specializes in identifying and contacting potential customers, a service that thrives on LinkedIn’s extensive professional network.
Carmichael-Jack humorously noted that the ban inadvertently boosted lead generation for Artisan as users discussed the situation online. “Once we were restricted, our lead flow suddenly started inching up every day,” he said. “I wish we’d done it on purpose.”
Following the ban, the company promptly removed all mentions of LinkedIn from its website and ensured compliance with third-party vendor regulations. “The team handling the ban was helpful and responsive,” Carmichael-Jack added, despite their anonymity.
As of October 13, 2023, Artisan is now fully operational on LinkedIn again. The company is planning to launch a new version of Ava that will expand its capabilities to include outbound calling, indicating that the ban, while disruptive, would not have been catastrophic for its operations.
While LinkedIn has ventured into AI with its Hiring Assistant tool, aimed at recruitment rather than sales, the recent actions against Artisan may hint at potential future competition in the sales AI space. LinkedIn has yet to respond to requests for comment on this matter.
The swift resolution of Artisan’s ban serves as a reminder to other startups in the AI sector: Big Tech is closely monitoring the use of its platforms. As the landscape evolves, companies must navigate these waters carefully to avoid similar pitfalls.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as Artisan AI continues to redefine the outbound sales landscape.
