Poke Launches as First AI Agent on Apple Messages Ahead of WWDC

In a notable development ahead of the Worldwide Developers Conference, The Interaction Company has introduced Poke, the first AI agent approved for Apple’s Messages for Business platform. This milestone marks a shift in Apple's strategy for integrating AI into its ecosystem, reflecting a broader trend driven by advancements in AI technologies.

Apple’s App Store, which generated over $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2025, is increasingly seeing AI as a key growth factor. Notably, 40 of the top 100 apps now feature consumer-facing AI capabilities, which have outpaced billing growth compared to apps lacking these features. This trend sets an intriguing stage for the announcements expected at WWDC, where further integration of AI agents like Poke may be highlighted.

Poke enables users to interact with an AI agent via text messaging, managing a range of tasks from daily planning and calendar management to health tracking and smart home control. Since its launch in March, Poke has facilitated over 100 million messages, demonstrating its rapid adoption. Following a recent funding round that raised $10 million, Poke is now valued at $300 million, backed by investors including Spark Capital and General Catalyst.

Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of The Interaction Company, provided insights into the rigorous process required to gain Apple’s approval. This process involved ensuring compliance with Apple’s standards, which included verifying the availability of live human support and clearly identifying the AI agent within the interface. Von Hagen expressed optimism about Apple’s growing openness to AI agents, highlighting the importance of building partnerships based on trust and quality over simply pursuing growth.

The rollout of Poke will enable existing users to transition to the Apple Messages for Business platform, with Apple Pay as a payment option. This integration enhances user experience and suggests that AI agents could become a standard feature within Apple’s messaging ecosystem as it evolves.

As the tech community anticipates Apple’s announcements at WWDC, the successful launch of Poke may signal the onset of broader AI functionality in Apple's offerings. The expanding intersection of AI infrastructure and consumer applications could transform how users engage with technology, marking a new chapter in the relationship between AI and mobile platforms.