Here are the top AI agents that can live in your text messages

Rather than requiring a separate app, a growing number of AI agents can be reached simply by texting them like an ordinary person. You tell the agent what you need, and it can remember context, connect to the apps and services you already use, and complete tasks on your behalf—scheduling appointments, organizing calendars, researching trips, sending emails, making reservations, shopping online, or setting reminders days later. While Instinct is one of the buzziest agents, thanks to its $10 billion valuation after a $1 billion funding round, many others are competing in this space.

The article profiles notable options spanning general-purpose assistants and agents tailored to families, travel, and work. These include Ask Proxy, which positions itself as an assistant that "thinks like a woman" and proactively anticipates needs, pricing at $1 per day for personal use; Caddy, which turns scattered phone information into actionable items in iMessage and RCS; Comma, an open-source, free-to-start agent that works across browser, computer, and files and is reachable via Signal, Telegram, and WeChat; Fambot, a family "chief of staff" that sends nightly summaries and connects to Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, and WhatsApp; Folk, which runs on its own private cloud computer and can execute multi-step tasks; and Instinct, which gives users dedicated email addresses for their assistants and has begun rolling out call placement.

Other entries include Iris, powered by Hermes Agent via iMessage; Martin, a general-purpose assistant starting at $21 per month; Maverick, which asks permission before acting and offers a €27/month Pro tier; Miso, focused on travel; Ohai and Ollie, both family-focused (Ollie notably achieved SOC 2 compliance); Orbits, backed by a16z Speedrun, N49P, and Garage Capital; Pally, which connects WhatsApp, Gmail, calendars, and Google Drive; Poke, the first AI agent approved on Apple Messages for Business, later acquired by Cognition; Rene, a "best contact" assistant available on iMessage, Telegram, and WhatsApp; Skye, an "agentic homescreen" for iPhone from Signull Labs; Stanley, an AI content assistant for creators; Szn, which coordinates tasks via a single thread and reports 7,500+ businesses served; Tab, which emerged from stealth at a $300 million valuation; Tomo, which can join group conversations; Town, aimed at professional life with a $55 million Series A; Underdog, a privacy-focused, on-device assistant for Mac and Windows; and Wajo, whose agent Fo has its own email, phone number, and payment card and can bring in a human assistant when needed.

(Source：TechCrunch)