Short answer: Quest: Personal AI advisor (Q.) you talk to over iMessage, text or voice: builds Your Memory and Relationship Map, crafts mini-apps for goals, has its own phone for WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok, can supervise Muse and Instinct, and sends proactive check-ins. Instinct: Personal assistant you text or call; it uses a phone and computer the way people do to handle everyday tasks.
Quest vs Instinct
Sourced facts only. “Unknown” means not verified yet.
Key facts side by side
| Criterion | Quest | Instinct |
|---|---|---|
| Type | personal agent | personal agent |
| Vendor | New Quest AI Inc. (Delaware company, San Francisco; founders Vincent Nallatamby and Thomas Girardier) | Spear Street Technology (per TechCrunch) |
| Channels / category | iOS app (iPhone, iPad, iMessage); requires iOS 18.0 or later; talk via iMessage, text or voice messages | Text or phone call (per instinct.com) |
| Pricing / availability | Free on the App Store (checked 7 Nov 2026). Paid subscription pricing unknown. | Free, invite-only beta (per Fortune, 30 Sep 2026) |
| Launched | 2026-11-05 | 2026-02 |
| Funding (reported) | Unknown | USD 250M Series B at USD 2.5B valuation (Aug 2026); USD 1B Series C at USD 10B valuation (Sep 2026) |
| Channels confirmed | iMessage, Voice, Mobile app | SMS/text, Phone call |
| Verified facts | Founder Vincent Nallatamby launched Quest on 5 Nov 2026 (X launch post; Launch Archive; Les Echos 5 Nov 2026 18:00); Made by New Quest AI Inc., a Delaware company based in San Francisco; privacy policy last updated 3 Nov 2026; Cofounder Thomas Girardier; French entrepreneurs formerly at Google, per Les Echos; Free on the App Store; talk to Q. via iMessage, text or voice; connects email, calendar, location and health; plans quests and can message proactively; iOS 18+; Builds Your Memory, designs Your Relationship Map, crafts Customizable Mini-Apps, has its Own Phone, acts as a Proactive Advisor and can Manage AI Assistants; Opt-in per connected app; can connect Gmail/Calendar/Drive/IMAP, Apple Health/Oura, work/money/media connectors; Muse and Instinct via Quest's phone; asks before confidential or sensitive sharing; Messaging on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and TikTok runs on Quest's own phone; send only in chats you choose; can manage a conversation within your instructions while still asking before confidential or sensitive sharing; Terms say AI output may be inaccurate and is not medical, legal, financial or mental-health advice (Independent AI review of Terms §7); Paid subscription pricing unknown (App Store lists Free; Independent AI also marks cost beyond download as not verified); Les Echos quotes Vincent Nallatamby: people will have several AI agents; Quest is the mentor that knows the user by heart | Interface: 'You can text or call it. It can use a phone and computer in the same way that humans do.'; Example tasks on its site: disputing a bill, sending gifts, ordering groceries, scheduling doctor's appointments, planning a getaway; Private beta launched February 2026 (Fortune, citing WSJ); invite-only beta since August 2026; Raised USD 250M Series B (Index Ventures, Benchmark) at USD 2.5B valuation; total USD 350M at the time; Raised USD 1B Series C (Sequoia, Benchmark, Coatue) at USD 10B valuation, 28 Sep 2026; Privacy concerns were raised online about broad app permissions (TechCrunch) |
| Website | https://www.new.quest/ | https://instinct.com |
| Sources | [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] | [1] [2] [3] [4] |
| Last checked | 2026-11-11 | 2026-11-11 |
Frequently asked questions
What is Quest?
Personal AI advisor (Q.) you talk to over iMessage, text or voice: builds Your Memory and Relationship Map, crafts mini-apps for goals, has its own phone for WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok, can supervise Muse and Instinct, and sends proactive check-ins.
What is Instinct?
Personal assistant you text or call; it uses a phone and computer the way people do to handle everyday tasks.
How much does Quest cost?
Free on the App Store (checked 7 Nov 2026). Paid subscription pricing unknown.
How much does Instinct cost?
Free, invite-only beta (per Fortune, 30 Sep 2026)
Are Quest and Instinct the same type of agent?
Quest is listed as a personal agent and Instinct as a personal agent.
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