Instinct, an AI agent platform valued at $10 billion following its most recent funding round, is extending its functionality to group conversations. The company announced on Monday that users can now add the agent to chats with multiple participants, even when some members have not installed the application.

The development aims to streamline collaborative tasks such as coordinating travel itineraries, securing event tickets, managing fantasy sports leagues, organizing carpool schedules, or distributing Thanksgiving meal responsibilities. Early access participants gained access to the feature on Monday, with broader availability expected in the coming weeks.

Instinct's expansion places it in direct competition with Meta's AI initiatives, particularly Muse, which currently lacks group chat integration despite its parent company's messaging platforms supporting AI assistants across WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook. Both companies have recently enhanced their agents' capabilities to include voice interactions as part of efforts to capture consumer interest in practical AI applications.

Privacy considerations are central to the rollout. According to founder Noah Shinn, a user's personal Instinct agent must obtain explicit permission before engaging with a group's shared agent. Users retain control over which group conversations they permit the agent to access and can revoke that authorization at any time. Additionally, the group-level agent operates independently from individual user accounts and cannot access personal data without consent.

When new participants join a conversation, any pending responses from a user's personal agent are withheld until the user approves their transmission to the group. This mechanism is intended to prevent unsolicited information sharing while maintaining workflow continuity.

Shinn described the functionality as a solution to the inefficiency of fragmented planning discussions. "Coordinating plans with friends often involves repetitive exchanges about timing and location. With Instinct in the group, users can evaluate options collectively, reach consensus, and execute plans within a single thread," he stated.

Access to the group chat feature requires users to request inclusion through their personal agent. The company has not disclosed specific rollout timelines beyond the initial early access phase.

Sarah, a technology reporter with TechCrunch since August 2011, brings experience from previous roles at ReadWriteWeb and IT positions across banking, retail, and software sectors. She holds a journalism background and can be reached via email at sarahp@techcrunch.com or through encrypted messaging at sarahperez.01 on Signal.