San Francisco-based startup Instinct has secured $1 billion in a Series C funding round. This investment brings the company's total valuation to $10 billion. The round was supported by major venture capital firms, including Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, and Coatue.
The company is developing a personal AI agent designed to perform autonomous tasks such as trip planning, grocery ordering, and managing subscriptions. Unlike traditional chatbots, Instinct interacts with external systems via phone or computer to execute requests on behalf of the user.
Instinct currently operates in early access and offers a concierge service for complex tasks like booking reservations or handling service bills. The platform also features a Trusted Person Network, which allows different AI agents to communicate, exchange files, and coordinate schedules.
To address security concerns, the startup implemented isolated sandboxes and local credentials for data protection. Additionally, the company integrated an active detective system intended to identify and prevent AI hallucinations before the agent executes any actions.
