Text-Based AI Agents Expand Beyond Apps as Instinct Hits $10 Billion Valuation
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Oct 3
Text-Based AI Agents Expand Beyond Apps as Instinct Hits $10 Billion Valuation
3 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Oct 3
Summary
A growing crop of AI assistants now works through SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp and Telegram, letting users delegate tasks like scheduling, booking, shopping and follow-ups without downloading another app.
Those agents aim to sit on top of tools people already use—email, calendars, messaging and documents—so they can remember context and complete multi-step actions rather than just answer prompts.
Instinct remains the highest-profile player after a $1 billion September round valued it at $10 billion; it has added dedicated assistant email addresses and is rolling out calling support, though privacy and security concerns persist.
Newer entrants are carving out niches: family-focused services such as Fambot, Ohai, Ollie and Orbits organize household logistics, while Miso targets travel, Town focuses on work and Stanley on creators.
Pricing and maturity still vary widely, from free betas and $8.33 monthly plans to premium tiers at $25 or $100, suggesting the app-free agent market is expanding fast but remains early and fragmented.