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Apple announces Poke as its 1st AI agent on Messages for Business platform
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New DelhiJun 5, 2026 01:24 PM IST Poke has become the first standalone AI agent approved to operate on Apple’s Messages for Business platform. (Image: Poke)Poke, an AI startup that allows users to interact with an AI assistant through text messages, has become the first standalone AI agent approved to operate on Apple’s Messages for Business platform. The approval enables the company to bring its service to iMessage, adding to its existing support for SMS, Telegram and in some markets WhatsApp. Apple’s Messages for Business platform was originally designed to help companies such as airlines, retailers and hostels communicate with customers through iMessage. Businesses use the service for customer support, appointment scheduling and automated interactions.Launched in March, Poke aims to make AI assistance more accessible through simple text conversations. The service can help users with tasks such as daily planning, calendar management, health and fitness tracking, smart-home controls and photo editing. According to TechCrunch, the company has already processed around 100 million messages. The announcement comes just days before Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where the company is expected to unveil new AI features, including updates to Siri and tools for developers. Although Poke’s approval does not mean Apple has opened the App Store to AI agents, it suggests the company is exploring ways to support AI-powered services through its existing messaging infrastructure. Instead of functioning as a standalone app, Poke operates within the Messages for Business framework and responds to users directly through iMessage. The move could also point to a potential business model for AI services on Apple platforms. Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of The Interaction Company of California, which developed Poke, said Apple charges the startup on a per-user basis to access the platform. While he did not disclose the pricing, he said the fees are lower than those charged for third-party AI agents on WhatsApp following regulatory changes in the EU. According to von Hagen, securing Apple’s approval took several months. The company had to demonstrate that users could access live support when necessary, clearly identify the service as an AI agent and modify its interface to comply with Apple’s guidelines. For instance, Poke now uses link previews and follows Apple’s design standards for interface elements.Story continues below this ad Backed by Spark Capital, General Catalyst and other investors, the 10-person startup recently raised an additional $10 million after a $15 million seed round last year. The company is now valued at $300 million post-money. (This article has been curated by Shivani P Menon, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
New DelhiJun 2, 2026 11:27 AM IST Meta has patched a vulnerability in its AI-powered support assistant that was reportedly exploited to gain access to Instagram accounts. (File Image)Meta has patched a security vulnerability in its AI-powered support assistant after hackers reportedly used the chatbots to gain unauthorised access to several Instagram accounts, including a number of high-profile accounts. Meta’s AI-powered chatbot was manipulated by the attackers to gain access to Instagram accounts by linking a new email address with target accounts. Once the email was added, the chatbot was used for password resets, thus allowing control over the target account without the hacker needing the victim’s email address.The issue came into light after users on Reddit and X reported a wave of accounts started getting hijacked over the weekend. Among the affected accounts were the Obama-era White House Instagram account, the account of the US Space Force’s Chief Master Sergeant, and several sought-after Instagram usernames. Security researcher Jane Wong said her Instagram account was also taken over. A video posted on X showed the step-by-step process to take over someone’s Instagram account. The attackers allegedly used a VPN service to appear as though they were accessing Instagram from a location associated with the target account. Then, they contacted the AI support assistant and requested a new email address with the account, and upon receiving a verification code at the attacker-controlled email, they would change the account’s password and gain access . According to TechCrunch, the outlet independently verified a portion of the attack after confirming that a public email address featured in one of the demonstration videos received an Instagram verification code. However, the report noted that the exploit was not consistently successful on the first try, with attackers occasionally required to repeat the process before the chatbot responded as intended. The incident has raised concerns about the use of AI systems in higher-risk areas such as customer support and account recovery.Story continues below this ad Experts have pointed out that identity verification is still the most crucial component for security features, especially when automatic programmes are authorised to execute actions that impact an entire account. On Monday, June 1, Instagram’s spokesperson Andy Stone said in a reply to Wong’s post that the issue has been fixed. Instagram has also stated that it is working on preventing further accounts from being compromised. (This article has been curated by Shivani P Menon, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
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