Skip to main content

Siri Alum's New AI Agent Lives in iMessage, Runs Errands for You

From Siri to szn: A New AI Agent That Acts

Nikhil Gupta, who once worked on Siri and Apple Intelligence, has launched an AI agent called szn. It lives right inside your iMessage conversations, and it's not just there to chat—it's there to get things done. Think of it as a personal assistant that browses websites, makes purchases, and talks to merchants on your behalf.

The service is taking sign-ups on its official site, with a select group getting early access. A wider rollout is planned for October.

Image

More Than a Chatbot: It Actually Does Stuff

Most chatbots stop at answering questions. szn goes further. Through iMessage, it can pull data from shared notes, Find My locations, and iCloud files, then use that information to complete tasks without you ever leaving the conversation.

Here's the kicker: Gupta says each user gets their own separate AI model. Every szn agent has its own name, email address, and phone number. That means it can theoretically reach out to outside services—contacting a merchant, handling an order, booking an appointment—just like a regular contact in your phone.

The Mystery of How It Connects

How exactly does szn plug into iMessage? That part is still fuzzy. Apple has a history of shutting down unofficial access—remember Beeper Mini? It simulated an Apple device and got blocked fast. In June, Poke became the first AI agent approved by Apple to connect to the Messages for Business platform, giving it an official channel. It's unclear if szn uses a similar route.

Meanwhile, Apple is beefing up Siri: the new iOS 27 version can perform some in-app actions and draft messages based on your habits. OpenAI has also added a feature for Mac ChatGPT to read iMessages and suggest replies, though you still have to hit send yourself.

Privacy and Permissions: The Unanswered Questions

Letting an AI handle payment info and send messages on its own raises obvious red flags. Privacy, security, and how much authority you're handing over—these are real concerns. The pricing model and technical details for connecting to iMessage haven't been disclosed yet.

For now, szn is a promising glimpse of what AI agents could become: less of a tool, more of a digital teammate. But until those privacy questions are answered, you might want to keep your credit card close.

Key Points

  • szn is a new AI agent from ex-Apple engineer Nikhil Gupta that works inside iMessage.
  • It can browse, order, and communicate with merchants on your behalf—not just answer questions.
  • Each agent has its own name, email, and phone number, acting like a separate contact.
  • How it connects to iMessage remains unclear; Apple has blocked unofficial access before.
  • Privacy, security, and pricing details are still up in the air.