Instinct, the AI agent startup valued at $10 billion, is bringing its agent into group chats. The company announced the feature on Monday, October 5.
Users can now add the agent to chats with friends. The company said these group chats will work even if those friends have not signed up for Instinct.
Instinct said the feature can help with everyday group tasks. Examples include planning trips, getting event tickets, running fantasy sports leagues, setting up carpools, and sorting out who brings what to Thanksgiving dinner.
The launch comes shortly after the company's latest funding round. Instinct raised $1 billion in a Series C round in late September, which set its value at $10 billion.
How Instinct Handles Privacy in Group Chats
Instinct founder Noah Shinn explained the privacy and security setup in a post on X. He said a user's personal Instinct agent will ask for permission before it connects with the group's Instinct agent.
Users can also pick which groups they trust. They can remove that trust at any time.
Shinn said the group's Instinct agent is kept separate from users' personal accounts. It cannot access those accounts.
The personal agent will always ask the user before sharing information or taking any action. This rule applies every time, according to Shinn.
If new members join a group chat, pending replies from a user's personal agent are held back. Those replies are not shared with the group right away.
"Making plans with friends usually turns into a frustrating back-and-forth over times and places," Shinn wrote. "With Instinct in the group, you can explore options together, agree on a plan and get it done, all in one thread."
Competition With Meta and OpenAI
The group chat feature puts Instinct ahead of one of its main rivals. Meta's AI agent Muse does not yet offer group chat support.
However, Meta's older app, Meta AI, can already be added to group chats. It works on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook.
Instinct and Muse have been adding similar features. Over the past few weeks, both agents gained the ability to make phone calls.
OpenAI is also competing in this market. Last week, it launched ChatGPT Dots, which are personal AI agents.
Dots can be used in ChatGPT Spaces. These are shared workspaces where the agents and people work together.
The Instinct group chat feature is first going to early access users. The company said it will expand to all users "soon."
Users who want to try it can ask their Instinct agent to add them to the waiting list. The same method works for other recently added features.
