GoKawiilInstinct AI agent nears $1B funding round at $10B valuation as Meta's Muse tops App Store charts
Instinct, an invite-only AI assistant that operates through iMessage and WhatsApp and connects to users' email and calendar, is reportedly in talks to raise $1 billion, which would value the company at $10 billion, according to The Information. The startup, which has already raised $350 million since its February private beta launch, is gaining traction in the Bay Area as a more accessible alternative to complex AI agents. Meanwhile, Meta's own assistant Muse has become Apple's most-downloaded free app despite reports of a serious security flaw that could have let attackers control users' Macs.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The rapid fundraising interest in Instinct and the viral uptake of Muse suggest investors and consumers are betting that AI agents integrated into everyday communication tools could become mainstream, moving beyond novelty chatbots into tools people actually rely on for administrative tasks. The contrast between enthusiastic early adopters and skeptical holdouts may explain broader tensions in tech, including public backlash over the infrastructure costs of AI, as companies race to prove these agents deliver real utility despite security and trust concerns.
- Instinct is reportedly in talks to raise $1 billion, valuing it at $10 billion, per The Information.
- Meta's Muse assistant became the top free app in Apple's App Store despite a reported security vulnerability.
- A growing divide exists between heavy AI agent users and skeptics, which may underlie public pushback against AI infrastructure expansion.
Source: wired.com — Zoë Schiffer, 2026-09-24
Published there as: “I Think I Found an AI Agent Worth the Risk”
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