Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Noah Shinn - Building Instinct: The Personal Agent - [Invest Like the Best, EP.493]

1h 27min

In this episode of Invest Like the Best, Patrick O'Shaughnessy interviews Noah Shinn, founder of Instinct, a proactive personal AI agent that manages tasks like scheduling, travel, and communication via messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp. Shinn discusses how Instinct goes beyond simple task execution, leveraging proactive capabilities to handle complex logistics (e.g., coordinating group travel, booking reservations), building a trusted network where agents can collaborate on behalf of users, and prioritizing data security through firewalls and user controls. He also explores the broader implications for industries like advertising and travel agencies, predicting a shift from ads to personalized experiences, and emphasizing the importance of user trust and control in the AI era.

Summarized by Podsumo

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✨ Key Takeaways

1

*Instinct as a proactive agent*: It doesn't just follow commands; it monitors, predicts, and acts on user needs, like booking optimal travel routes or checking restaurant availability every few seconds, a game-changer for efficiency.
2

*Trusted network collaboration*: Instinct allows users to connect with trusted contacts (e.g., friends, family) at varying access levels, enabling agents to share info (e.g., availability, needed documents) and coordinate tasks like sharing an Uber or suggesting meeting times, fundamentally changing how trust and access are managed.
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*Redefining business models*: Shinn argues that in an agent-rich world, industries like advertising (70% of revenue) and travel agencies (15-20% commissions) face disruption, as agents cut out costly middlemen and deliver personalized, direct experiences—though he advocates for collaboration rather than confrontation.
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*Security and trust by design*: Instinct treats user trust as core, using proactive firewalls to intercept and reject malicious content, decoupling risk from the agent architecture, and giving users granular controls to grant or revoke data access anytime, addressing concerns about sharing sensitive info with AI.

💬 Notable Quotes

"_"It's enabling the agent to be as capable as possible, but also safe and trustworthy._" — Noah Shinn"
"_Like, if I could just say to my instinct, hey, it's no one nearby, like where is he?"_ — Noah Shinn (paraphrased)"
"_"Where I see the majority of the value, uh just like thinking on the business side, is you know, if you look at most of the other um, you know, major platforms in the world and what take rates that they're able to achieve..."_ — Noah Shinn"