AI Assistants Instinct and Meta's Muse Introduce Calling Features
Both text-based AI platforms enhance user experience with new capabilities to make calls.
The Full Story
In a competitive landscape for text-based AI assistants, Instinct and Meta's Muse have stepped up their game by introducing calling features. San Francisco-based Instinct, widely recognized among users, recently announced its new capability, Instinct Concierge, which allows the AI to make phone calls on behalf of users. This includes tasks such as booking tables at restaurants that don't offer online reservations, placing users on dental appointment cancellation lists, and resolving issues like cable bill inquiries.
Noah Shinn, Instinct's founder, shared on X that this rollout is currently in early access for select users, with plans for broader availability soon. Not to be outdone, Meta’s Muse has also added calling functions, enabling users to make phone calls to U.S. businesses directly through the AI assistant. Users who request calls will have this feature prioritized, demonstrating a unique approach where Muse adapts to user requests for functionality.
This shift reflects a growing trend where AI assistants are aiming to streamline day-to-day tasks, making them more integral to users’ lives. Both Instinct and Muse are not only in direct competition with one another but also against other emerging players like Wajo, Town, and Ollie. As Instinct quickly introduces new features, it has positioned itself as a substantial player with a valuation reportedly reaching $10 billion.
Just last month, the AI company successfully raised $350 million at a valuation of $2.5 billion, displaying strong investor interest in technology capable of navigating non-traditional platforms like phone calls and restaurant bookings. The introduction of the calling feature marks a significant competitive milestone, leveling the playing field among rival AI assistants. Previously, competitors had leveraged their calling abilities as a unique selling point, but now, with both Instinct and Muse offering similar functionalities, this edge diminishes.
Analytics from Sensor Tower reveal that Muse, despite being relatively new, has seen impressive traction following its launch. The app garnered approximately 730,000 downloads within its first few days — outpacing Meta’s AI app, which recorded 707,000 downloads in the same timeframe. Muse even ascended to the second position in app store rankings, further solidifying its growing popularity among users.
The continued evolution of these AI platforms signifies a shift in how users might interact with technology, especially with features that allow for handling more complex tasks through voice and automation. With ongoing developments and increasing capabilities, both Instinct and Muse aim to enhance user experiences, potentially changing the landscape of personal assistant technology altogether. As they push forward with these new features, community feedback will likely shape their next steps in striving for greater functionality and utility in everyday life. As the competition heats up, AI assistants will undoubtedly focus on diversifying their toolsets to meet the dynamic needs of users — and the improvements are already evident as they expand their technological capabilities.
Why It Matters
These new calling features from AI assistants represent a significant step towards integrating AI into everyday user tasks, enhancing efficiency and convenience for technology users in various aspects of life in South Africa and beyond. The increased competition among these platforms could lead to more innovation.
What's Next
Expect further advancements from both Instinct and Muse as they refine their calling features. Future updates may include additional integrations and functionalities to improve user interaction, informed by ongoing user feedback and competitive pressure.