More AI assistants now work through text messages instead of apps

In short: More companies are building AI assistants you can text like a person, so you do not have to download another app.

What's going on

A growing number of so called AI agents are designed to “live” inside messaging tools like iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, and even regular SMS. An AI agent is a helper that can do tasks for you, not just answer questions (like a virtual assistant that can also run errands).

TechCrunch published a list of notable options, including general assistants and tools focused on specific areas like family planning, travel, and work. Examples include Caddy, which connects to calendars and chats to pull out things that need action, and Comma, which aims to carry tasks through to completion across devices and can be reached through apps like Signal and WeChat.

Several tools target household coordination. Fambot sends a nightly summary of the next day and connects to services like Gmail and Google Calendar, while Ollie focuses on privacy and says it meets SOC 2, a common security standard. Others specialize further, like Miso for booking and managing travel through iMessage, and Stanley for helping creators plan and schedule social media content.

What to watch

These assistants often ask to connect to personal services like email, calendars, and shopping, which can be convenient but also raises privacy and security questions. Some companies are trying different approaches, such as Underdog, which says it runs on your own device instead of in the cloud (like keeping files on your phone rather than on someone else’s server). Another issue to watch is pricing, since many products start free or in beta, but several already charge monthly subscriptions.

Source: TechCrunch AI