Apps & Consumer
Poke becomes first AI agent on Apple Messages for Business
Poke has become the first AI agent approved for Apple’s Messages for Business platform, as the startup reaches a $300 million valuation.
Poke, a 10-person startup, has become the first artificial intelligence agent approved to run on Apple’s Messages for Business platform—Apple’s communication platform designed for business-to-consumer interaction. Previously, the platform only allowed verified businesses to communicate directly with customers. The approval allows Poke to operate as a standalone third-party AI agent on the service.
Launched in March, Poke allows users to manage daily tasks such as calendar scheduling, smart home control, and photo editing through text messages. The startup has already relayed 100 million messages across its supported platforms, which include SMS, Telegram, and WhatsApp. With the new approval, Poke will add Apple Messages for Business as a supported platform, allowing users to interact with the AI agent directly through Apple’s native Messages application.
The launch comes just ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)—Apple’s annual developer event—scheduled for next week on Monday. At the conference, Apple is expected to introduce an AI-optimized version of Siri and is rumored to open its App Store to AI agents. For Poke, the integration introduces a distinct business model. Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of Poke’s parent company, The Interaction Company of California, clarified that Poke pays its messaging service provider on a per-user basis rather than paying Apple directly. Von Hagen noted that this pricing is significantly lower than Meta AI’s fees in the EU, which increased following regulations requiring third-party AI agent access on WhatsApp.
Securing Apple’s approval required Poke to verify it could provide live human support if needed, clearly identify itself as an AI agent, and customize its user interface to match Apple’s style guidelines. Von Hagen emphasized that the startup aligned its positioning with Apple’s focus on trust, contrasting it with many consumer products that focus on “getting to numbers through questionable tactics.” Regarding the rigorous compliance process, von Hagen said: “This took a couple of months to adhere to all of these standards, and it will take anyone else who wants to build on this — it will also take them a couple of months to get through this approval process.”
Based in Palo Alto, California, the startup is backed by investors including Spark Capital and General Catalyst. Its financial structure includes:
- Post-money valuation: $300 million
- Recent funding: $10 million added to its capital
- Seed funding: $15 million raised last year
Why it matters
Poke’s approval signals a potential shift in how Apple integrates third-party AI agents into its ecosystem, moving beyond its traditional walled-garden approach. By allowing an external agent onto its business messaging platform, Apple may be establishing a template for how independent AI services will interact with iOS ahead of broader ecosystem updates.