Instinct, an AI agent, canceled a flight and secured a $550 refund for a user, highlighting its real-world capabilities. It is the company's first major update since launching in private beta in February.
The company, which launched in private beta in February, is reportedly in talks to raise $1 billion on top of the $350 million it’s already raised, bringing its valuation to $10 billion, according to The Information.
Instinct’s moment in the spotlight comes as Meta is experiencing its own unexpected burst of popularity thanks to Muse, an AI assistant the tech giant launched earlier this month. As of writing, Muse is the most popular free app in Apple’s App Store, with more than 900,000 downloads, according to third-party estimates.
Instinct is built on a seamless integration with iMessage and WhatsApp, targeting users who want an AI assistant that works without requiring open text boxes. Availability begins with an invite-only beta, initially for users in the Bay Area.
"It’s hard to overstate how important this is," said a researcher. "Rather than trying to figure out for yourself how to make the chat experience more useful, you’re texting with an agent that’s suggesting things it can do for you, and then actually doing them."
The announcement follows the launch of Muse, which has sparked significant interest despite its security vulnerabilities. The source itself frames the significance as a shift in how users are interacting with AI tools.
Instinct did not say how it handles user data beyond its Terms of Service, and users have raised concerns about privacy and security. The source says the company is continuing to refine its approach.
Source: wired
