Poke becomes first AI agent on Apple's Messages for Business platform
Apple approves a text-based AI agent, Poke, for iMessage business chats.
Poke, a startup founded by Marvin von Hagen, has become the first AI agent approved to operate on Apple's Messages for Business platform. This platform was previously limited to businesses (airlines, retailers, etc.) for customer communication via iMessage. Poke offers a simple text-based interface for tasks like daily planning, calendar management, health tracking, smart home control, and photo editing. It already supports SMS, Telegram, and WhatsApp, and has processed over 100 million messages since its launch in March. The approval process took several months, requiring Poke to verify live support, clearly identify its AI agent, and adhere to Apple's UI guidelines (e.g., link previews instead of inline links).
For Apple, this opens a new revenue stream through per-user fees from AI agent startups. For Poke, it's a distribution milestone. The news arrives just before WWDC 2026, where Apple is expected to introduce AI-enhanced Siri and other tools. While Apple hasn't opened its App Store to AI agents generally, this approval could signal a broader shift. Von Hagen emphasized trust and quality as key factors in getting approved, and he believes Apple's support for AI agents will grow over time.
- Poke is the first third-party AI agent on Apple's Messages for Business, offering text-based task automation.
- Approval required months of compliance including live support verification, UI customization, and link preview rules.
- Apple charges Poke a per-user fee, potentially creating a new revenue model for AI distribution on iMessage.
Why It Matters
Poke's approval opens iMessage to AI agents, signaling Apple's emerging monetization strategy and distribution channel.