Emergent, an Indian startup recognized for its vibe-coding platform, has introduced "Wingman," an autonomous AI agent designed around messaging, marking its entry into the expanding field of background task automation software—a trend popularized by tools such as OpenClaw and Anthropic's Claude. Originally based in Bengaluru, the company first made waves with its vibe-coding platform, which rivals solutions like Cursor and Replit by enabling users without coding expertise to develop full-stack applications using natural language. With Wingman, Emergent is shifting focus from creation to execution, aiming to have AI agents manage everyday tasks across various tools and workflows.

"The natural progression for us was to explore whether we could assist users not only in building software but also in operating more independently through it," explained Mukund Jha, co-founder and CEO of Emergent. "This represents a shift from software that merely supports business operations to software that can actively help run them."

The startup reports that over eight million creators have utilized its vibe-coding platform to build and launch software, with more than 1.5 million monthly active users. Established in 2025, Emergent secured $70 million in funding this January at a $300 million valuation, supported by investors like SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Wingman is built to function within messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, letting users assign and track tasks through chat. Simultaneously, the agent works in the background across integrated tools including email, calendars, and workplace software. It can perform routine actions on its own but will request user approval for more significant steps, according to the company.

This launch occurs as autonomous AI agents become a major focus in the tech industry, with numerous firms competing to develop tools that can accomplish tasks for users. Initiatives like OpenClaw—formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot—have attracted early adopters, while companies including Anthropic and Microsoft are advancing their own agent-based systems in this area.

Emergent seeks to stand out by integrating Wingman directly into messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Apple's iMessage, enabling interaction through familiar chat interfaces rather than requiring a new one. The startup has also implemented "trust boundaries," which allow the agent to handle routine tasks autonomously while necessitating user consent for more impactful decisions, aiming to alleviate concerns about fully autonomous systems.

"A significant amount of actual work already occurs through chat, voice, and email—whether it's requesting information, following up, sharing context, or making decisions," noted Jha. "Increasingly, these will also be the primary ways we collaborate with agents."

However, like many developing AI agents, Wingman has its constraints. Jha acknowledged that the system encounters challenges "with consistency in highly ambiguous scenarios, complex edge cases, unclear objectives, or workflows that demand substantial human judgment."

Wingman is currently available through a limited free trial, after which it will transition to a paid model. Existing Emergent users can access the agent via their current accounts.