Apparently Fable, the much loved “Figma for motion” app is shutting down. What’s interesting is that they cite even with a sizeable investment in their Prism (generative) AI, they still weren’t able gain any ground in the market, and were unlikely to be able to ‘cut through’ in the current AI race going forward.
In 2019, we started Fable to make motion design more accessible – To become the “Figma for motion,” the “After Effects on the web,” and the “Canva for creative pros.” However, software looked very different back then, and while we knew our vision would be a near-impossible task, the early validation was all we needed to bet big. Today, Fable is the most powerful motion platform on the web, loved by some of the biggest brands on earth. We are all incredibly proud of what we brought to the world.
However, by the time we started to take Fable to market, AI was beginning to challenge the very nature of software itself, and our multi-modal bet with Prism wasn’t enough to cut through. And while we hold a strong pov on how the next generation of creative workflows should evolve, unfortunately, we don’t have the time to get there.
To me this speaks of how it’s near impossible to compete with the larger companies investing huge sums in their AI products, and that any smaller company whose product isn’t inherently AI based would do well to leverage the existing AI platforms, and focus their investments on what they do best, and what makes them unique and compelling to their users.
A $15 million fundraising round, coupled with a token-based payment system for accessing language models like GPT, seems poorly positioned when you consider that OpenAI itself is involved in an ongoing series of funding rounds, with a profitability target set for 2029. This highlights, once again, the crucial importance of conducting a comprehensive feasibility study.
If Webflow decides to keep future GSAP developments exclusively for its own platform, it could seriously disadvantage competitors like Wix, WordPress, or any web builders relying on this library for quality animations. This move would undeniably boost Webflow’s standing in the interactive web design arena.
I’m sorry to insist : how long ago did I write on this forum that waiting two years for AI would be like being left behind?
Kodak’s issues were far more complicated than not investing into the future. I was using their products commercially for 20 years before they closed/acquired. The issues were deep. I suspect the same is with Wordpress. Programming languages being acquired is a temporary issue. It will not take long for another to replace it.
Looks like we’ll be fine, at least for a few years. I’m also glad we’ve already purchased a commercial license
GSAP will continue to be publicly available for everyone to use on the wider web. Both Webflow and the GSAP team are committed to maintaining and evolving the library, including for use outside of Webflow. We love this community and it’s important to us that GSAP continues to be the go-to toolset for web animators everywhere.
If you pay for GSAP, we are honoring your current pricing plan and licensing – so just business as usual!
Quark is a Ferengi and the owner of a bar on the space station Deep Space Nine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (the picture you used). He’s known for his greed and his strict adherence to the Rules of Acquisition, a set of Ferengi guidelines that prioritize profit above all else. Throughout the series, Quark often engages in shady deals, black market trades, and under-the-table negotiations, always seeking to maximize his earnings. Despite his scheming nature, Quark has a complex character. He is sometimes shown to have a softer side, displaying loyalty to his friends and occasionally doing the right thing, though often reluctantly.
Quark serves as a source of comic relief, while also embodying the moral dilemmas of capitalism and greed. He has a tense relationship with his brother Rom, who is less interested in profit, and with Odo, the station’s security chief, who frequently thwarts Quark’s illegal activities. However, Quark remains an integral part of the station’s community, and despite his flaws, he earns the respect of the crew over time. By the series’ end, Quark continues running his bar on Deep Space Nine, ever the opportunist but also a beloved fixture on the station.
Thanks to chatgpt for this very well constructed summary, oops an AI arrgghhhh
I am always interested in what was said, precisely what was said (professional deformation/habit), written here. Without the word “current” I would believe it…
