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mariagorskikh/open-instinct

An open-source personal AI agent you text over iMessage, running in its own cloud desktop and coordinating with other people's agents.

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What is it?

Open Instinct is a personal agent you reach by texting a phone number. Each agent gets its own phone number, email address and agent-to-agent endpoint through Inkbox, and runs inside a microVM with a Linux desktop on Maritime. The agent loop is built on Pi, connected apps are reached through Composio, and payments use a Stripe Link wallet, with a policy check in front of every tool. The default model is Claude, and any Pi provider can be used instead.

The agent can place phone calls on your behalf, create files such as PDFs and send them back as attachments, and read or edit its own prompt and persona files. Access is governed by seven trust tiers enforced in code before any tool runs, so a partner's agent, a friend's agent or a stranger each get different permissions. Card details never reach the model: each purchase uses a single-use card for the exact amount, approved by the owner.

The project is a TypeScript monorepo with a CLI, a gateway for multi-user signup, and documentation covering architecture, permissions, deployment and key setup. It is described as version 0.1 and beta, and it is not affiliated with the unrelated OpenInstinct project.

Key features

  • 01Texts with the agent over iMessage or SMS, with email as well.
  • 02Runs in its own microVM with a Linux desktop on Maritime.
  • 03Connects apps by name through Composio.
  • 04Places phone calls and reports the outcome by text.
  • 05Pays via Stripe Link with single-use cards that the owner approves.
  • 06Enforces seven trust tiers before any tool runs.

Use cases

  • Texting a personal assistant to book reservations or make calls for you.
  • Letting a partner's or family member's agent check your calendar under limited permissions.
  • Building a self-hosted personal agent you can customize through its prompt and persona files.
  • Exploring how agent-to-agent coordination and payment approval flows can be implemented.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/mariagorskikh/open-instinct && cd open-instinct
  2. 2

    Install dependencies and build

    pnpm install && pnpm build
  3. 3

    Export your Anthropic API key

    export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
  4. 4

    Create your agent profile

    pnpm instinct init --name "Maria" --phone +14155550100 --email maria@example.com --handle maria-instinct

Things to know

  • You must bring your own API keys from several services, and the README says no keys are included.
  • Live iMessage and Maritime deployment are described as beta.
  • Paid payments need a Stripe Link OAuth client, which requires an application reviewed in about 3 to 5 days.
  • Requires Node 22.19+ and pnpm 10.

Topics

#ai-agents#personal-agent#imessage#typescript#composio#agent-to-agent#payments#agents#inkbox#instinct

FAQ

What is open-instinct?
An open-source personal AI agent you text over iMessage, running in its own cloud desktop and coordinating with other people's agents. Open Instinct is a personal agent you reach by texting a phone number. Each agent gets its own phone number, email address and agent-to-agent endpoint through Inkbox, and runs inside a microVM with a Linux desktop on Maritime. The agent loop is built on Pi, connected apps are reached through Composio, and payments use a Stripe Link wallet, with a policy check in front of every tool. The default model is Claude, and any Pi provider can be used instead.
Is open-instinct free to use? What license does it have?
open-instinct is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is open-instinct still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to open-instinct was on Oct 21, 2026.
What can I use open-instinct for?
Texting a personal assistant to book reservations or make calls for you. Letting a partner's or family member's agent check your calendar under limited permissions. Building a self-hosted personal agent you can customize through its prompt and persona files. Exploring how agent-to-agent coordination and payment approval flows can be implemented.
How do I install open-instinct?
Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/mariagorskikh/open-instinct && cd open-instinct Install dependencies and build: pnpm install && pnpm build Export your Anthropic API key: export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-... Create your agent profile: pnpm instinct init --name "Maria" --phone +14155550100 --email maria@example.com --handle maria-instinct
Where can I get open-instinct?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/mariagorskikh/open-instinct

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