Instinct, the rapidly growing AI assistant startup valued at $2.5 billion, announced Tuesday that it is introducing dedicated email addresses for its users. The new feature is designed to allow the AI agent to operate more independently by creating and managing its own accounts, thereby eliminating the need to clutter users’ personal inboxes.
Founder Noah Shinn explained that the initiative aims to streamline tasks that require email interaction, such as signing up for various services, contacting businesses, or following up on pending items. “For example, Instinct can use its own email to contact a restaurant about a special request, ask a business about availability, or sign up for a service it needs to complete your task,” Shinn wrote on X.
This development enhances the seamless nature of the user experience, reducing the friction of manual logins and credential sharing. Instinct recently partnered with 1Password to further facilitate secure access to users’ existing accounts.
While the feature offers convenience for users who are increasingly reluctant to share personal contact information for simple transactions, it introduces a layer of anonymity for businesses. Companies engaging with Instinct will be interacting with an AI rather than a human customer directly.
Early adopters have reserved specific email addresses, while others can claim theirs at mail.instinct.com. Shinn also noted that users can forward emails to their Instinct address when the agent requires specific data to complete a task. In one scenario, a user could forward an order confirmation to Instinct, which would then contact support, arrange a return or replacement, and provide a printable return label.
The AI can also join group threads to monitor ongoing conversations or process long email chains, asking clarifying questions about deadlines or decisions before acting autonomously and checking back only when human input is necessary.
The email rollout is part of a broader set of updates aimed at expanding Instinct’s capabilities. In August, the company partnered with Stripe to enable smoother payment processes for bookings and purchases. Additionally, Instinct introduced a location-sharing feature that allows the agent to assist with finding nearby businesses, mapping routes, and recalling location history, such as where a user parked or dined previously.
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