Poke Becomes First AI Agent on Apple’s iMessage

Apple has approved startup Poke as the first third-party AI agent to operate through its Business Messages platform on iMessage, marking a significant step in the company's expanding AI ecosystem.

Launched in March, Poke allows users to interact with an AI assistant via text messages for tasks such as daily planning, calendar management, fitness tracking, smart home controls, and photo editing. The company says its platform has already processed around 100 million messages.

Previously, Apple's Business Messages service was limited to communications between consumers and businesses such as airlines, retailers, and hotels. Poke is the first independent AI service granted access to the platform.

The announcement comes days before Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where the company is widely expected to unveil major AI upgrades, including a more advanced version of Siri and new tools for developers.

Poke's founders said the company pays Apple a per-user fee to access the platform, creating a new revenue stream for Apple while potentially opening the door for more AI agents to integrate with iMessage in the future.

Industry observers view the move as another sign that Apple is gradually embracing AI-powered assistants as part of its broader strategy for messaging and digital services.