Title: Apple Grants First AI Agent Approval to Poke on Messages for Business Platform

Poke, a startup that simplifies AI agent interaction to the level of sending a standard text message, has secured the distinction of being the first AI agent approved for deployment on Apple’s Messages for Business platform. While Apple’s messaging infrastructure has long provided a standardized interface for automated and live customer service for major partners—including airlines, retailers, and hotel chains—it had previously remained closed to AI-driven entities.

Introduced in March, Poke aims to make AI accessible to everyday users who lack the technical expertise or interest in navigating command-line interfaces or complex agentic systems like OpenClaw. Through simple text messaging, users can currently leverage Poke for a variety of tasks, including daily planning, calendar management, health and fitness tracking, smart home control, and photo editing. According to the company, Poke has already processed approximately 100 million messages. Currently operating over SMS, Telegram, and WhatsApp in select regions, Poke will now extend its reach to include iMessage.

This development arrives just days before Apple’s expected Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, where the tech giant is rumored to unveil an AI-optimized version of Siri and other developer tools. Although speculation has suggested Apple might open its App Store to AI agents, that is not the case with this new integration. Instead, the Messages for Business platform allows consumers to engage directly with businesses through the iMessage interface, facilitating activities such as support inquiries, appointment scheduling, and information gathering without the need for traditional phone calls.

Given that Poke’s text-based interactions mirror standard business communications, the platform serves as a logical home for such agents. The integration also introduces a new revenue stream for Apple. Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of The Interaction Company—the Palo Alto-based startup behind Poke—confirmed that his company will pay Apple a per-user fee for the service. While specific pricing details remain confidential, von Hagen noted that the cost is substantially lower than Meta’s fees, which were raised following EU regulations mandating third-party AI access on WhatsApp.

“I think that Apple is just noticing this is the best way to offer AI, and…actually, good for them, because they charge us,” von Hagen stated. “They charge us per user on the platform and actually make money with this, especially if it becomes really big.” He further predicted that Apple’s support for AI agents would expand in the future.

Securing Apple’s approval required Poke to undergo a rigorous vetting process. The company had to demonstrate its capability to provide live human support when necessary and ensure its AI agent was clearly identified as such. Additionally, Poke provided testimonials from its messaging providers and adapted its user interface to comply with Apple’s specific guidelines. For example, the iMessage version of Poke displays link previews rather than inline links and utilizes Apple’s style guide for buttons and other interface components.

“This took a couple of months to adhere to all of 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 explained.

Regarding its status as the first approved agent, von Hagen attributed the decision largely to trust. “It was also just important that we were very aligned in terms of the positioning of the company,” he noted, contrasting Poke with many consumer products that prioritize rapid user growth through questionable tactics. “We care about quality, we care to have a brand that signals trust.”

It remains unclear whether Apple will announce any further details regarding AI agents on the Messages for Business platform during the upcoming WWDC.

Source: TechCrunch Generated at: 2026-06-04 19:20:58 UTC