Apple has approved Poke as the first AI agent to operate on its Messages for Business platform. Previously reserved for businesses to communicate with customers through iMessage, the platform now allows third-party AI agents like Poke. Launched in March, Poke is designed for everyday users who lack the technical skills for complex AI systems. The AI agent can assist with daily planning, calendar management, health tracking, smart home control, and photo editing via text message. To date, it has relayed 100 million messages, according to the company. Poke operates over SMS, Telegram, and, in some markets, WhatsApp. Now, it will add iMessage to its supported platforms.
Poke’s integration with Apple’s Messages for Business platform represents a significant milestone for AI agents. The startup, backed by Spark Capital and General Catalyst, recently raised $10 million, bringing its post-money valuation to $300 million. The company will pay Apple a per-user fee, which is significantly lower than Meta AI’s fees after EU regulations required third-party AI agents on WhatsApp. According to Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of The Interaction Company of California, Apple’s approval required verifying live support and ensuring the AI agent was clearly identified. Poke also customized its user interface to meet Apple’s guidelines, including showing link previews instead of inline links.
The approval process took several months, and von Hagen noted that it will take others a similar amount of time to get approved. He emphasized that being the first AI agent on the platform was important for building trust, as many consumer products today rely on questionable tactics to reach numbers. Poke is currently rolling out invites to existing users to optionally move to the iMessage experience. Apple was not immediately available for comment.
Source: techcrunch
