Instinct, an AI assistant you phone, is worth $2.5 billion pre-launch
TechCrunch reported on August 26, 2026 that Instinct raised a $250 million Series B co-led by Index Ventures and Benchmark, bringing total funding to $350 million at a $2.5 billion valuation while the product remains in private beta. Users reach the assistant by text or voice call and it works through connected apps: email, calendars, rides, services, shopping. It is also drawing privacy criticism over how much personal data it accesses and over perpetual-license terms of service.