FUNDING · STARTUPS · #1286
Instinct rolls out "Instinct Selections" product recommendations, prompting user backlash
AI startup Instinct began pushing a new feature called Instinct Selections that serves curated product recommendations (dining, travel, shopping) — some users report receiving unsolicited or poorly targeted suggestions and criticized the experience on social media. The company hasn’t disclosed partners behind the human curation or whether it’s monetizing the feature; the launch follows Instinct’s recent $1B Series C and $10B valuation.
KEY POINTS
- AI startup Instinct began pushing a new feature called Instinct Selections that serves curated product recommendations (dining, travel, shopping) — some users report receiving unsolicited or poorly targeted suggestions and criticized the experience on social media.
- The company hasn’t disclosed partners behind the human curation or whether it’s monetizing the feature; the launch follows Instinct’s recent $1B Series C and $10B valuation.
- This matters because adding unsolicited, commerce-oriented recommendations can harm user trust in AI assistants and signals a potential advertising/affiliate revenue shift for a fast-growing AI agent.
WHY IT MATTERS
This matters because adding unsolicited, commerce-oriented recommendations can harm user trust in AI assistants and signals a potential advertising/affiliate revenue shift for a fast-growing AI agent.