en.Wedoany.com Reported - AI agent startup Poke has been approved as the first third-party AI agent to operate on Apple's Messages for Business platform. Previously, the platform was only available for businesses such as airlines, retailers, and hotel chains to communicate with customers via iMessage, offering automated chat and human agent services, and was not open to independent third-party AI agents.
Launched in March this year, Poke aims to enable ordinary users without technical skills to use AI agents via text messages for daily planning, calendar management, health tracking, smart home control, and photo editing. The company told TechCrunch that it has processed approximately 100 million messages to date. The service operates on SMS, Telegram, and WhatsApp in some markets, and will now add the iMessage platform.
Poke's launch on Messages for Business comes on the eve of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Apple is expected to unveil an AI-enhanced version of Siri and AI tools for app developers at WWDC. There are rumors that Apple will open its App Store to AI agents.
Poke's business model is worth noting. Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of its parent company The Interaction Company of California, said the company will pay Apple based on the number of users. He did not disclose specific pricing but noted that the fee is lower than the price Meta AI raised after allowing third-party AI agents on WhatsApp in response to EU regulations. This per-user fee structure, if widely adopted, could generate a new revenue stream for Apple while also becoming a distribution cost for AI agent startups.
Obtaining Apple's approval required demonstrating that the company could provide real-time support when needed and that the AI agent must be clearly identified. Poke submitted proof as a message service provider and customized the user interface to comply with Apple's guidelines. For example, Poke on iMessage must display link previews instead of inline links and use Apple's style guide for buttons and interface elements. Von Hagen said it took months to meet all the standards, and other developers would need a similar time for approval. He believes Poke became the first to pass due to the company's positioning and trust, emphasizing quality and brand trust.
It remains unclear whether Apple will announce anything related to AI agents on the Messages for Business platform at WWDC. Poke is sending invitations to existing users, allowing them to switch to the iMessage experience based on their preferences. The 10-person startup, backed by Spark Capital, General Catalyst, and other angel investors, recently secured $10 million in funding, following a $15 million seed round last year at a post-money valuation of $300 million.
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