Instinct launches AI agent in group chats, including those with non-users

Instinct, the AI agent now valued at $10 billion following its latest funding round, is expanding into group chats. The startup announced on Monday that users can add the agent to conversations with friends, offering assistance in scenarios such as travel planning, securing event tickets, managing fantasy leagues, organizing carpools, or coordinating Thanksgiving contributions.
Notably, the company stated that group chats with the AI agent function even if a user’s friends have not joined Instinct.
With this launch, Instinct advances its competition against top rivals in the sector, such as Meta’s Muse. While Meta’s older app, Meta AI, can be added to group chats on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook, Muse does not yet offer this group chat functionality.
Instinct in group chats
Starting today, early access users can add Instinct to group chats. A new Instinct joins and works for the whole group.
Making plans with friends usually turns into a frustrating back-and-forth over times and places. With Instinct in the group, you can… pic.twitter.com/pqJX7ieC7B
— Noah Shinn (@noahrshinn) October 5, 2026
Instinct and Muse have been closely competing recently, with both adding phone call capabilities over the past few weeks as their agents vie for a larger share of the consumer AI market. Last week, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Dots, personal AI agents that can also be used in ChatGPT Spaces, collaborative workspaces where Dots and humans work together.
On X, Instinct founder Noah Shinn explained how Instinct handles privacy and security in group chats. He stated that a user’s personal Instinct agent will request permission before connecting with the group’s Instinct agent, and that users can choose which groups they trust and revoke that trust at any time.
Shinn also noted that the group Instinct is isolated from users’ personal accounts, which it cannot access. The personal agent will always ask for the user’s permission before sharing information or taking any action.
If new members join the group chat, any pending replies from a user’s personal Instinct agent are held before being shared with the group as well.
“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.
The feature is initially rolling out to Instinct’s early access users but will expand to all users “soon.” To gain access to the new feature (or other recent additions), users can ask their Instinct agent to add them to the list for testing.
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Instinct, the AI agent now valued at $10 billion following its latest funding round, is expanding into group chats. The startup announced on Monday that users can add the agent to conversations with friends, offering assistance in scenarios such as travel planning, securing event tickets, managing fantasy leagues, organizing carpools, or coordinating Thanksgiving contributions.
Notably, the company stated that group chats with the AI agent function even if a user’s friends have not joined Instinct.
With this launch, Instinct advances its competition against top rivals in the sector, such as Meta’s Muse. While Meta’s older app, Meta AI, can be added to group chats on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook, Muse does not yet offer this group chat functionality.
Instinct in group chats
— Noah Shinn (@noahrshinn) October 5, 2026
Starting today, early access users can add Instinct to group chats. A new Instinct joins and works for the whole group.
Making plans with friends usually turns into a frustrating back-and-forth over times and places. With Instinct in the group, you can… pic.twitter.com/pqJX7ieC7B
Instinct and Muse have been closely competing recently, with both adding phone call capabilities over the past few weeks as their agents vie for a larger share of the consumer AI market. Last week, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Dots, personal AI agents that can also be used in ChatGPT Spaces, collaborative workspaces where Dots and humans work together.
On X, Instinct founder Noah Shinn explained how Instinct handles privacy and security in group chats. He stated that a user’s personal Instinct agent will request permission before connecting with the group’s Instinct agent, and that users can choose which groups they trust and revoke that trust at any time.
Shinn also noted that the group Instinct is isolated from users’ personal accounts, which it cannot access. The personal agent will always ask for the user’s permission before sharing information or taking any action.
If new members join the group chat, any pending replies from a user’s personal Instinct agent are held before being shared with the group as well.
“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.
The feature is initially rolling out to Instinct’s early access users but will expand to all users “soon.” To gain access to the new feature (or other recent additions), users can ask their Instinct agent to add them to the list for testing.
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Dunigan O’Keeffe, Partner in Bain & Company’s Strategy & Transformation practice and lead author of the report. Credit: Bain & CompanyBain & Company Partner Dunigan O’Keeffe explores the US$4.7tn AI profit shift across four sector clusters and explai
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