Key facts
- AI agents can now be accessed through text messages, acting as personal assistants.
- These agents can manage tasks like scheduling, research, email, and reservations.
- Instinct has raised $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation.
- Caddy integrates with iMessage and RCS to manage information from emails and conversations.
- Comma is an open-source AI assistant accessible via messaging apps like Signal and Telegram.
- Fambot is designed for families, managing school, activities, and calendars via app and SMS.
- Folk runs on a private cloud and can execute multi-step tasks.
- Iris uses the Hermes Agent to delegate tasks through iMessage.
- Martin offers general-purpose assistance via SMS, phone, WhatsApp, email, and Slack.
- Miso specializes in AI-powered travel planning through iMessage.
- Ohai and Ollie are family assistants that organize household information and tasks.
- Ollie is SOC 2 compliant, a security standard for family-focused AI assistants.
Instead of downloading new applications, consumers can now interact with AI agents through text messages, similar to communicating with another person. These agents are designed to remember context, integrate with existing apps and services, and perform tasks on behalf of users. Capabilities include scheduling appointments, organizing calendars, researching trips, sending emails, making reservations, online shopping, and setting reminders.
Several notable AI agents are emerging in this space. Instinct, which recently raised $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation, is one of the most prominent. Other options include Caddy, which operates within iMessage and RCS to turn scattered phone information into actionable items like calendar events and reminders. Comma, an open-source assistant, manages tasks across work and personal life and is accessible via messaging apps like Signal and Telegram.
For families, Fambot acts as a "chief of staff," organizing school communications, activities, and calendars, and is available via app and SMS. Folk offers similar AI assistance through iMessage, WhatsApp, and Telegram, running on its own private cloud to execute multi-step tasks. Iris, powered by Hermes Agent, allows users to delegate tasks directly through iMessage, retaining context and proactively following up.
Martin provides general-purpose personal assistance through SMS, phone, WhatsApp, email, and Slack, managing calendars, emails, and tasks. Miso focuses specifically on travel, combining AI trip planning with human support through iMessage. Ohai and Ollie are also family-focused assistants, helping households manage information and tasks, with Ollie being noted for its SOC 2 compliance.