Instinct AI Agent Sees Travel Bookings Drive More Than Half of Platform Transactions
AI assistants are increasingly being pitched as the next big interface for everyday tasks, and travel planning has quickly become one of their most popular uses. From booking last-minute flights to finding hotel rooms in a specific city, travel remains a clear showcase for what personal AI agents can do.
Instinct, an invite-only AI agent platform, appears to be benefiting heavily from that trend. Founder Noah Shinn recently said that more than 50% of transactions on the platform are related to travel. He also claimed the company is nearing a run rate of $1 billion in annual transactions, though he did not explain the exact method used to calculate that figure.
According to Shinn, the appeal of travel agencies and booking websites is that they bring together airlines, hotels, and related services in one place, making it easier for users to compare options and complete a purchase. However, he believes AI agents can offer a more natural and efficient experience.
Instead of searching through multiple travel sites, a user could simply tell an AI assistant, “I need to be in New York tonight; it’s urgent,” and the agent could handle the search, compare availability, and help complete the booking. That type of conversational booking experience is one reason travel has become such a strong use case for AI-powered personal assistants.
Shinn also said Instinct is growing quickly, with daily growth of around 10% and transaction volume rising at a similar pace. If that momentum continues, the company could become one of the more closely watched startups in the emerging personal AI agent market.
However, some of Shinn’s comments about restaurant reservations sparked criticism. He suggested that traditional restaurant booking systems often work on a first-come-first-served basis and may not properly consider whether someone is booking for an important life event. In his view, an AI agent could constantly monitor restaurant reservation systems and alert users when a table becomes available.
Shinn also indicated that Instinct wants to rethink how restaurant reservations work, potentially giving some users more personalized treatment. He argued that diners often want reservations for meaningful occasions, while restaurants may prefer guests celebrating special events or those they view as more interesting.
Those remarks drew pushback from critics. Some noted that AI agents could falsely claim a user is celebrating an anniversary, birthday, or other special event just to improve their chances of getting a table. Others argued that restaurants often value local regulars because they provide steady repeat business, even if they are not booking for a major occasion.
The debate highlights a growing concern around AI agents: as they become more capable of negotiating, booking, and acting on behalf of users, platforms will need safeguards to prevent manipulation or dishonest behavior.
Instinct recently raised $1 billion in Series C funding at a $10 billion valuation. The funding round included major investors such as Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, and Coatue. Despite having a team of only 14 people, the startup is now competing in the fast-growing personal AI agent space against other well-funded players, including Meta’s Muse and Khosla-backed Wajo.
With travel bookings already making up the majority of its transactions, Instinct’s rise shows how AI agents could reshape online booking, personal assistance, and digital commerce. But its restaurant reservation ambitions also show that the next stage of AI convenience may come with difficult questions about fairness, trust, and how much influence automated agents should have in real-world services.
