AI agents are moving out of dedicated apps and into your text messages. According to a TechCrunch roundup published in October 2026, a growing number of assistants can now simply be texted like an ordinary person: you send a message describing what you need, and the agent remembers context, connects to the apps and services you already use, and completes tasks on your behalf.
That can mean scheduling an appointment, organizing a calendar, researching a trip, sending an email, making a reservation, shopping online, or reminding you about something days later. The shift matters because it removes the friction of downloading and learning yet another app, putting capable AI inside a thread Tunisian users already know how to use.
The AI agents that live in your messages
The most talked-about name in this space is Instinct, which has raised $1 billion in September 2026 at a $10 billion valuation, following an earlier $350 million round at a $2.5 billion valuation. Instinct acts on your behalf rather than just answering questions, connecting to email, calendar, Google Workspace and more. Early users have reportedly used it to plan trips, buy groceries, book tickets and cancel subscriptions. It has also started giving users dedicated email addresses for their assistants and rolling out support for placing calls, though the company remains in private beta. The roundup notes that this level of autonomy has raised privacy and security concerns.
Caddy focuses on turning scattered phone information into action. It lives in iMessage for iPhone users and RCS for Android users, so there is no separate app or inbox to check. It connects to calendars and conversations, spots items that may need follow-up, and can add events, set reminders and do research. Caddy has been in public beta since April 2026.
- Instinct: private beta, $1B raised in September 2026 at a $10B valuation; text or voice; can act, not just answer; dedicated assistant email addresses; live calling rollout underway



