INSTINCT BOOM: Viral AI Agent Raises $1B Series C at $10B Valuation...

Instinct has raised $1 billion in its Series C round at a $10 billion valuation, just one month after closing a $2.5 billion Series B, with backing from Sequoia Capital, Benchmark, and Coatue. The AI agent—which launched as an invite-only service in August 2026—performs real-world tasks like booking travel, paying bills, and making phone calls on users' behalf, communicating via SMS. The breakneck funding pace reflects investor appetite for consumer AI agents, though Instinct faces immediate pressure from Meta's rival assistant Muse, which has already reached millions of downloads by integrating with Instagram, Facebook, and Marketplace. Privacy concerns around the personal data these agents require remain unresolved.