Silicon Valley’s Invitation-Only AI Assistant Instinct Gains Rapid Traction

Instinct operates as an invitation-only AI assistant that users control via text messages, eliminating the need for complex setup. In recent days the author used it to reserve a birthday cabin, place a dinner booking, order whey protein, fax a document for a bank refund, verify dental network status, negotiate with an insurance rep, cancel forgotten subscriptions, and answer emails. The startup is raising $250 million, valuing it at $2.5 billion, with founder Noah Shinn—who left Northeastern University and previously worked at Sierra—remaining silent to inquiries.

Industry peers note that Meta is experimenting with a comparable service named Hatch. While the convenience is praised, the assistant’s effectiveness depends on extensive access to personal digital accounts, and its terms allow the company to train its models on user data, raising privacy concerns.