Text-based AI assistants Instinct and Meta’s Muse have just leveled up with a major new feature: the ability to place outgoing phone calls. With this update, both agents can now act like concierge services — booking restaurants, handling service issues, or making arrangements when there’s no online reservation system.
Instinct’s Concierge: High-Touch Calling Features
San Francisco-based Instinct has added “Instinct Concierge,” a calling feature aimed at dealing with tasks that typically require human interaction by phone. Whether it’s getting into a booked-out restaurant, getting on a waitlist with a local dentist, or sorting a cable bill, Instinct Concierge is designed to cover tasks that go beyond what has worked through chat or automation alone. This capability is rolling out in early access now, with plans to open it up to all users over time.
Muse Matches Instinct, Also Makes Calls
Meta’s Muse is offering similar functionality to U.S. users. The AI can now call U.S. businesses when asked to — a feature that initially rewards users who express interest in it. Meta has indicated that Muse will continue to introduce features like this first to people who request them directly through the assistant. This “feature request” model was key to Muse launching the outbound calling function.
Competition, Uptake, and Funding
The race to build more capable AI agents is heating up. Instinct and Muse had been pressed by competitors touting their calling abilities as a differentiator; now both are tied in that feature. Beyond calling, Instinct has also rolled out email workflows that let the assistant manage sign-ups and account administration. Users can also connect their assistants with those of others via trusted networks to coordinate tasks.
On the business front, Instinct raised $350 million just last month, valuing the company at $2.5 billion. It is reportedly in talks to raise $1 billion, which could hike its valuation up to $10 billion. Meta’s Muse, meanwhile, is gathering strong numbers in downloads and usage: in the U.S., Muse surpassed the initial performance of the Meta AI app by reaching over 730,000 downloads in its first few days. At one point, it climbed into the top two spots in app store rankings.
As these agents evolve, new features like outbound calls mark a turning point in what AI assistants can do. Moving beyond text and inference, they’re now entering domains that require real-world interaction and negotiation with people and businesses.
Why this matters: allowing AI agents to make phone calls represents a shift toward handling tasks once reserved for humans. It raises important questions about privacy, quality, and trust. Will agents mimic humans convincingly? How will interactions be vetted and logged? What safeguards protect users when an AI is on the line? The rollout of these capabilities will need close attention to guardrails and clarity.
