Poke makes using AI agents as easy as sending a text

Poke, a startup backed by Spark Capital and General Catalyst, has launched an AI agent accessible through iMessage, SMS, and Telegram that handles everyday tasks like calendar management, smart home control, and automated reminders. Unlike complex agentic AI systems that require technical setup, Poke works through familiar text messaging interfaces. The company has raised $25 million total and is now valued at $300 million.

Key Points

• 1. Poke is an AI agent accessible via iMessage, SMS, Telegram, and in some markets WhatsApp, requiring no app download or account signup.
• 2. The agent handles tasks like daily planning, calendar management, health tracking, smart home control, photo editing, and custom automations written in plain text.
• 3. The startup raised an additional $10 million on top of a $15 million seed round, bringing its valuation to $300 million post-money.
• 4. Poke uses the best-suited AI model for each task rather than being tied to a single provider, which the company sees as a competitive advantage.
• 5. Users can create custom automations in plain text and share them with friends through shareable 'recipes' across categories like health, productivity, and finance.
• 6. The company leverages Linq technology to operate within messaging platforms and is navigating Meta's restrictions on third-party chatbots for WhatsApp access.

Relevance

• Poke represents a growing trend of making agentic AI accessible to non-technical users by meeting them on platforms they already use daily.
• The startup's model-agnostic approach contrasts with big tech companies that are locked into their own AI models, potentially offering more flexibility.
• As demand for AI agents surges, Poke's messaging-first strategy could capture users who find desktop-based agent tools too complex or intimidating.

Poke's approach signals that the next wave of AI adoption may come not from more powerful models, but from simpler interfaces that make existing AI capabilities accessible to everyone.