Instinct, SMS AI Agent, Aims for $250M to $2.5B

Key Takeaways

1Instinct, an SMS AI assistant, performs concrete tasks without technical setup

2Its effectiveness relies on extensive access to personal accounts, and its terms allow training on user data

3The WSJ reports a funding round of $250 million for a valuation of $2.5 billion

4Meta is testing a similar tool called Hatch

Why it matters : Instinct illustrates the trend of agentic AI, where assistants automate real actions, but at the cost of increased access to personal data.

Instinct promises to perform everyday tasks through a simple SMS conversation. Its terms allow for training its models on user data, and its effectiveness increases with access to personal accounts. The service, led by Noah Shinn, is reportedly raising $250 million at a $2.5 billion valuation, and is part of the so-called agentic AI wave.

Models Trained on User Data and Extensive Access Required

Instinct's terms of use permit the training of its models on data provided by users. The service requires significant access to personal information to function fully, and its utility increases when connected to email, calendars, and other accounts. Noah Shinn, who leads the project, has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Reported $250M Raise for a $2.5B Valuation

Instinct is reportedly in the process of raising $250 million, bringing its valuation to $2.5 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. The service is led by 23-year-old Noah Shinn, who left Northeastern University and previously worked at the AI company Sierra.

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An Agent via SMS, No Setup Required, Executing Concrete Actions

Instinct operates through text messages and does not require technical setup: a simple SMS is enough to trigger task management. The service is invitation-only and is described as very popular in Silicon Valley. One user reports that Instinct recently booked a cabin and dinner, ordered whey protein, faxed a document to a bank for a fee reimbursement, checked a dentist's network and made an appointment, dealt with insurance, canceled recurring subscriptions, and responded to emails. Other AI tools, such as OpenClaw, Codex, or Claude Code, can accomplish some of these tasks.

In the Push for Agentic AI, Meta is Also Testing Hatch

Instinct is part of a trend in the industry aimed at having agentic AI systems perform actions beyond simple text generation. In this context, Meta is reportedly testing a similar tool named Hatch, according to a report by Hugh Langley.