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Instinct demonstrates the viability of niche AI agents built on text-based interfaces, successfully competing against major tech giants' offerings like Muse and Dots in handling daily administrative tasks. The startup's ability to secure a $10 billion valuation despite an invite-only launch model highlights investor confidence in specialized personal assistant models that prioritize utility over broad ecosystem integration.

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Instinct was the buzziest AI agent around — can it survive Muse?

The VergeOctober 9, 20268 min read

Instinct’s agent is always just a text away. Before there were cute little guys, there was Instinct. In August, the startup got its AI agent to market with an unusual playbook: invite-only, no marketing, and barely so much as a website. And yet, Instinct quickly became the buzziest thing in AI, garnering praise for its straightforward, text message-based interface and its ability to handle chores like booking DMV appointments and sending follow-up emails. Then Muse arrived, followed not long after by Dots. The same products, more or less, from two far more powerful companies. With Big Tech players suddenly in the mix, it was looking dubious that the startup's buzzy launch could keep … Read the full story at The Verge.

Before there were cute little guys, there was Instinct. In August, the startup got its AI agent to market with an unusual playbook: invite-only, no marketing, and barely so much as a website. And yet, Instinct quickly became the buzziest thing in AI, garnering praise for its straightforward, text message-based interface and its ability to handle chores like booking DMV appointments and sending follow-up emails. Then Muse arrived, followed not long after by Dots. The same products, more or less, from two far more powerful companies. With Big Tech players suddenly in the mix, it was looking dubious that the startup’s buzzy launch could keep it ahead of the competition. But in my own testing, Instinct has held its own against the other two agents, handling online tasks about as well as a robot can. And Instinct’s founder, Noah Shinn, is unfazed…

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