TechCrunch has refreshed its list of AI agents that live in your text messages, adding Comma, Szn, Tab and Underdog to take it from 18 to 22. We compare the two versions, profile the four newcomers from their own sites, map every agent by messaging app, and pick the best one for each job, from family admin to private on-device help. We also flag eight details in the list that differ from what the companies publish.
TechCrunch has listed 18 AI agents that live in your text messages, from Poke and Instinct to family organisers such as Fambot and Ollie. We go through every one: where you can reach it, what it costs, who is funding it and how it handles your data, and we correct six details in the original list using the companies’ own pages. We also explain what texting agents mean for businesses whose staff connect them to work email.
Rene launched on 16 September 2026 as a multiplayer-first iMessage agent from Second Enlightenment Limited. Every user gets their own Rene, and two Renes text each other to find a slot that works on both calendars, with each person approving their own side. Users can also add Rene to a group chat to plan a trip or settle a debate. This article covers the agent-to-agent handshake, the iMessage distribution fight behind it, the nine connected apps, the published AI provider list, and the privacy questions that a multiplayer design raises.
A practical explainer on Poke, the messaging-first AI agent startup trying to make automations, reminders, and integrations feel as easy as sending a text.
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