Long the top gaming chat platform, Discord has evolved into the online forum of choice for many communities—from houseplant aficionados to movie buffs. Its 19 million weekly active servers give 150 million monthly active users semiprivate rooms to connect around specific interests via voice, video, and text—for bad or good. In April, one user was charged with sharing dozens of classified documents in a Discord group in one of the most significant national intelligence leaks in U.S. history. At the same time, Midjourney, a text-to-image AI server, has ballooned to over 17 million members. “That multiplayer aspect has made this a really exciting place for new things,” says senior VP of product Peter Sellis.
More from TIME
A weekly newsletter featuring conversations with the world’s top CEOs, managers, and founders. Join the Leadership Brief.
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024