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

Key Points:

• Instinct, a startup AI agent launched with an invite-only, low-marketing approach, quickly gained attention for its simple text message-based interface and ability to handle everyday tasks like booking appointments and sending emails.
• Despite competition from larger companies like OpenAI’s Muse and Meta’s Dots, Instinct has held its ground by focusing solely on being a personal assistant for daily life, integrating seamlessly into users’ lives through text-based communication without a traditional app interface.
• Instinct’s AI can connect to services like Google Workspace and Slack, perform vague task instructions, proactively identify relevant information, and handle life admin chores effectively, though it still faces challenges with imperfect online data.
• While currently free for invite-only users, Instinct plans to remain affordable but will likely introduce paid features or revenue models in the future, reflecting the broader industry trend where AI assistants may monetize through subscriptions or advertising.
• Industry experts suggest that as AI assistants become more commerce-oriented, advertising will likely play a key role in their business models, with companies incentivized to integrate ads in a consumer-friendly manner.