Poke, a startup that simplifies AI agent usage to just sending a text message, has become the first AI agent authorized to operate on Apple’s Messages for Business platform. Previously, this platform was exclusive to partnered companies like airlines, retailers, and hotel chains, offering a standardized interface for business messaging that accommodates both automated chat systems and live agents. Until now, it had not been accessible to AI agents. Launched in March, Poke is among the early AI agents designed for everyday users who lack the technical expertise or desire to use command-line tools or more complex agentic systems, such as OpenClaw. Currently, Poke assists with common tasks like daily planning, calendar management, health and fitness tracking, smart home control, photo editing, and more—all through text messages. The AI service operates via SMS, Telegram, and, in certain markets, WhatsApp. Now, Poke will also be able to support iMessage.

The announcement of Poke’s integration with Apple’s Messages for Business comes just days before Apple’s highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, where the company is expected to unveil an AI-enhanced version of Siri, along with other AI tools and services for app developers. There have also been rumors that Apple would open its App Store to AI agents. However, that’s not exactly what’s happening with Poke. Apple’s Messages for Business platform isn’t a consumer-facing mobile app; rather, it allows consumers to interact with businesses directly through iMessage’s interface. This enables users to reach out to businesses for information, support, appointment scheduling, and more, without needing to make a phone call.

This platform is a natural fit for AI agents like Poke, given that its interactions closely resemble those of other businesses. Poke’s users ask the AI agent a question or make a request, and it responds via text. This also opens up a new revenue model for Apple. Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of The Interaction Company of California, the Palo Alto-based startup behind Poke, says his company will pay Apple on a per-user basis. While he cannot disclose exact pricing, he notes it is significantly lower than Meta AI’s fees after Meta increased charges in response to EU regulations requiring it to allow third-party AI agents on WhatsApp.

“I think Apple is realizing this is the best way to offer AI, and…actually, good for them, because they charge us. They charge us per user on the platform and make money from this, especially if it becomes really big,” von Hagen says. He believes Apple’s support for AI agents will expand over time. Gaining Apple’s approval required a verification process where the company confirmed it could provide live support if needed and that its AI agent was clearly labeled as such. Poke also submitted testimonials from its messaging providers and customized its user interface to meet Apple’s guidelines. For example, on iMessage, Poke must display link previews instead of inline links, and it uses Apple’s style guide for elements like buttons and interface components.

“This took a couple of months to adhere to all 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,” von Hagen said. As for being the first, that largely came down to trust. “It was also just important that we were very aligned in terms of the positioning of the company,” he noted, explaining that many consumer products today focus on achieving numbers through questionable tactics. “We care about quality, we care to have a brand that signals trust,” von Hagen added. It remains unclear whether Apple will announce any news related to AI agents on its Messages for Business platform at WWDC next week, and von Hagen is not privy to Apple’s plans. However, the startup is currently rolling out invitations to existing users, allowing them to optionally switch to the iMessage experience if they prefer. Apple was not immediately available for comment.