Instinct Expands $10B AI Agent into Group Chats Without Requiring Accounts for All Members

Artificial intelligence startup Instinct announced Monday that it is expanding its AI agent into group chats, allowing participants to collaborate even if they do not have an Instinct account. The company, which is valued at $10 billion following its latest financing round, is initially rolling out the feature to early access users before a broader release, as reported by TechCrunch AI .

Under the new setup, a dedicated group agent enters the shared thread to handle group logistics such as booking travel, securing event tickets, organizing carpools, or coordinating events.

The rollout comes amid intensifying competition across consumer AI agents. Instinct and Meta's Muse both introduced phone-calling features in recent weeks, though Muse does not yet support group chats. In parallel, OpenAI debuted ChatGPT Dots last week for collaborative workspaces inside ChatGPT Spaces. Meta's legacy Meta AI assistant already operates inside group chats on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook.

Addressing privacy in multi-user environments, Instinct founder Noah Shinn outlined on X how the company isolates group and personal data. Shinn stated that the group-level Instinct agent operates in a separate silo and cannot access users' private account records.

A user's personal Instinct agent must request explicit permission before connecting to a group agent, and users can designate or revoke trust for specific groups at any time. Personal agents also require user approval prior to sharing data or executing actions. Additionally, if a new member enters the group chat, pending responses from personal agents are paused before being shared.

"Making plans with friends usually turns into a frustrating back-and-forth over times and places. With Instinct in the group, you can explore options together, agree on a plan and get it done, all in one thread," Shinn wrote.

Early access users can add the agent to group chats immediately, while existing users seeking access can ask their personal agent to join the waitlist.