Instinct Secures $350M at $2.5B Valuation as AI Assistant Startup Draws Privacy Scrutiny
aiinsider ·
Instinct, an AI assistant startup founded last year by 23-year-old Noah Shinn under Spear Street Technology, has raised $250 million in a Series B round co-led by Index Ventures and Benchmark, bringing its total funding to $350 million and valuing the company at $2.5 billion. The startup's AI assistant helps users manage daily tasks by connecting to their apps and devices, allowing communication through texts and calls. Shinn highlighted early uses such as planning road trips, ordering groceries, buying concert tickets, and organizing a wedding. Despite its rapid growth and enthusiastic early adopters, the company is facing privacy scrutiny from online users concerned about its broad permission requirements and terms of use, which some find invasive given the access needed to function across personal accounts and devices. Instinct remains in private beta.
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