Key facts
- AI agents are increasingly accessible via text messages, eliminating the need for separate apps.
- These agents can remember context, connect to user apps and services, and perform tasks like scheduling, research, and email.
- Instinct, a notable AI agent, recently raised $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation.
- Several AI assistants like Caddy, Fambot, Folk, Iris, Martin, Miso, Ohai, Ollie, Orbits, and Pally are available or in beta.
- Some agents focus on specific areas like family management (Fambot, Ohai, Ollie, Orbits), travel (Miso), or general personal assistance (Caddy, Folk, Instinct, Iris, Martin).
A new wave of artificial intelligence agents is emerging that can operate directly within text messaging applications, allowing users to manage tasks and information without downloading separate apps. These agents can remember conversational context, connect to existing services and applications, and perform a variety of actions on behalf of the user.
Examples of tasks these AI agents can handle include scheduling appointments, organizing calendars, researching travel plans, sending emails, making restaurant reservations, shopping online, and setting reminders. This approach aims to integrate AI assistance seamlessly into users' daily communication habits.
Instinct has garnered significant attention, recently raising $1 billion in funding at a $10 billion valuation. The company allows users to communicate with their AI agent via text or voice and connect it to services like email and Google Workspace. Early users have employed Instinct for tasks ranging from trip planning and grocery shopping to ticket booking and subscription cancellations. Instinct is also developing features like dedicated email addresses for assistants to manage accounts and sign up for services, though this has raised privacy and security concerns.
Other notable AI agents include:
- Caddy: Operates within iMessage (iPhone) and RCS (Android), turning scattered phone information into actionable items by connecting to calendars and conversations to add events, set reminders, and conduct research. It has been in public beta since April 2026.
- Fambot: Aims to be a "chief of staff" for families, organizing school communications, sports activities, meal plans, and calendars. It works via app and text, sending daily summaries and allowing parents to interact via SMS. Launched in beta in early September 2026, it plans to charge a subscription fee after its free beta period.
- Folk: Accessible via iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram, Folk can manage reminders, research topics, track flights, handle email, and make reservations. It runs on its own private cloud and can execute multi-step tasks. Its beta launched in May 2026, with a Pro subscription available.
- Iris: Powered by the Hermes agent, Iris allows users to delegate tasks through iMessage, connecting to apps and proactively following up with users.
- Martin: A general-purpose assistant available through SMS, phone, WhatsApp, email, Slack, and an iOS app, managing calendars, emails, reminders, and tasks. It can also make calls and send messages, with subscriptions starting at $21 per month.
- Miso: Specializes in travel, operating through iMessage by combining AI trip planning with human support to arrange flights, provide updates, and offer recommendations.
- Ohai: Another family assistant that transforms messages, emails, or voice requests into schedules and plans, coordinating calendars and chores. It offers a free basic option and tiered subscriptions.
- Ollie: Focuses on family organization by syncing information from school messages, calendars, and chats. It is notable for being one of the first family-focused AI assistants to achieve SOC 2 compliance. It offers a free tier and paid plans starting at $25 per month.
- Orbits: Works through its app and text messaging to manage household tasks, search the web, make purchases, book appointments, and coordinate chores and service providers.
- Pally: Allows users to interact with the assistant as they would a friend, granting it access to their existing apps.