Poke, a Palo Alto startup from The Interaction Company of California, has launched an AI agent that works through text messages. Users can access it through iMessage, SMS, Telegram, and, in some markets, WhatsApp. The Agent aims at offering simple access to agentic AI without app installs or technical setup. Poke was publicly launched in March 2026.
Poke can handle everyday tasks through plain-language prompts. It can help users with calendar planning, reminders, email alerts, health tracking, smart home controls, photo editing, and quick updates like sports scores or weather.
The firm remarks that users can create their own automations in plain text and share them with others. It makes Poke AI Agent feel less like a chatbot and more like a task helper inside a text thread.
How does the Poke AI Agent Work?
Poke uses different AI models for different tasks, including those from major providers and open-source systems. It also uses a messaging layer called Linq to live inside chat apps. The service currently works over SMS, iMessage, and Telegram. WhatsApp support is limited because Meta has restricted general-purpose chatbots in some markets.
Poke’s own docs indicate that it is meant for natural chat-based use, with integrations for email, calendars, reminders, and web search.
How to Start Using Poke?
Users can start using Poke right away with a few easy steps. Just visit Poke.com and tap on ‘Get Started’. Enter your phone number, and you are all set to use the tool. Users do not have to install any application since it can simply operate through text messages.
A New Era in Agentic AI!
The launch arrives as interest in agentic AI is growing fast. But many agent tools still demand coding knowledge, terminal access, or complex workflows. Poke is trying to remove those barriers.
According to the founders of the AI Agent, people already know how to text, so the interface should not be the hard part. This approach could open AI automation to users who would never build agents on their own.
Poke is a 10-person company that has raised an additional $10 million on top of a $15 million seed round. The startup says the product is free to start, while more advanced real-time automations may be priced on a usage-based model.
The new AI agent is set to redefine how individuals use agentic AI regularly. Agentic AI may finally feel ordinary if people can direct an AI agent with a text message.
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