A growing number of artificial intelligence agents are bypassing traditional app downloads to live directly inside text messaging platforms, allowing users to delegate tasks via SMS, iMessage, and RCS. These agents promise to remember context, connect to existing services, and complete actions such as scheduling appointments, organizing calendars, and making reservations without requiring users to switch interfaces.
What Happened
Instinct has emerged as a prominent player in this space, recently raising $1 billion in a funding round that valued the company at $10 billion, according to TechCrunch. The company, which remains in private beta, reports that early users have utilized the agent for tasks ranging from trip planning to cancelling subscriptions. In September, Instinct began providing users with dedicated email addresses for their assistants, allowing the agent to create and manage accounts on a user’s behalf without cluttering personal inboxes. The company also noted that it has begun rolling out support for placing calls.
Several other competitors are also vying for market share with distinct approaches. Caddy, available in public beta since April 2026, integrates with iMessage and RCS to identify actionable items from emails and conversations, such as adding events to calendars or setting reminders. Fambot, designed as a 'chief of staff' for families, launched in beta in early September 2026 after raising $3.5 million in pre-seed funding. It sends nightly summaries of upcoming events and to-dos, with plans to eventually charge a subscription fee equivalent to a Netflix plan.
Poke, a general-purpose assistant launched in March 2026, gained notability in June when Apple approved it as the first AI agent on the Apple Messages for Business platform. A month later, its parent company, The Interaction Company of California, was acquired by AI coding startup Cognition in a deal valued in the low nine figures. Other entrants include Folk, which runs on a private cloud computer to execute multi-step tasks; Martin, a general-purpose assistant with subscriptions starting at $21 per month; and Ollie, a family-focused agent that recently achieved SOC 2 compliance.
Why It Matters
The shift toward text-based agents lowers the barrier to entry for AI adoption by leveraging communication channels users already inhabit. Rather than learning new interfaces or managing multiple app subscriptions, users can interact with these tools through familiar messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage. This integration allows agents to connect with existing workflows, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Slack, potentially increasing daily engagement and utility.
However, the autonomy granted to these agents raises privacy and security concerns. For instance, Instinct’s use of dedicated email addresses to sign up for services and contact businesses represents a level of agency that requires users to trust the agent with sensitive interactions. Similarly, agents like Wajo’s Fo are given their own identities, including email addresses, phone numbers, and payment cards, to interact with businesses without exposing user credentials. The industry is also seeing significant financial interest, with companies like Town raising a $55 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz and Forerunner in June 2026, and Orbits securing backing from investors including a16z Speedrun fund.
The Bottom Line
The AI agent market is rapidly expanding beyond standalone apps into the messaging layer, with numerous startups offering specialized services for families, professionals, and travelers. While Instinct leads in valuation, competitors are differentiating through specific integrations, security certifications, and unique features like group chat participation or dedicated agent identities. As these tools move from beta to public availability, the focus will likely shift to balancing convenience with the privacy implications of granting AI agents independent access to personal communication and financial tools.