Instinct Founder Says Travel Drives More Than Half of AI Agent Transactions

AI agent startup Instinct is seeing travel emerge as its biggest use case, with founder Noah Shinn saying more than half of transactions on the platform are related to booking trips.

In a recent interview, Shinn said the invite-only platform is approaching $1 billion in annual transaction volume, though he did not specify how he calculates that figure.

In the interview with investor Patrick O’Shaughnessy, Shinn discussed how AI agents could change the way people interact with services such as hotels, airlines, and restaurants.

Travel Becomes a Key AI Agent Use Case

Shinn said traditional travel platforms help users compare options across airlines, hotels, and services. Still, AI agents could offer a more conversational experience by letting users describe specific needs and receive recommendations.

He said Instinct is growing rapidly, with platform and transaction volume increasing by about 10% daily.

The company is also exploring other areas, including restaurant reservations. Shinn suggested AI agents could monitor reservation availability and help users find openings for important occasions.

Debate Around AI Agents and Reservations

Some observers questioned whether AI agents could encourage users to provide misleading information, such as claiming special occasions to receive better restaurant access. Others noted that restaurants may value regular local customers who provide consistent business.

Recent discussions around Instinct’s approach have highlighted broader questions about how AI agents should interact with businesses and service providers.

Instinct Raises $1 Billion Funding Round

Instinct recently raised $1 billion in Series C funding at a $10 billion valuation from investors including Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, and Coatue.

The company is competing in the personal AI agent market alongside emerging platforms from other technology companies.

Investor and industry discussions around Instinct have focused on the potential and challenges of AI agents handling everyday tasks.

Additional commentary around the platform has examined how AI agents may change consumer interactions with online services.

Public reactions have also raised questions about how these systems should balance user convenience with fairness for businesses and customers.