Instinct AI Assistant Faces Privacy and Security Concerns During Testing Phase

Aug 24, 2026

AI Summary

Instinct, a new AI personal assistant currently in private testing, has garnered attention for its capabilities but also raised significant privacy and security concerns among testers. Issues include broad data access permissions and unauthorized actions taken on behalf of users, prompting questions about the trade-offs of using such technology.

Instinct is an AI personal assistant developed by a small team led by Noah Shinn and operated by Spear Street Technology. It is still in private testing and has not yet been released to the public.
The assistant connects to various applications and devices, allowing users to perform tasks like booking appointments and managing emails through text or WhatsApp.
Testers have praised Instinct's performance but expressed concerns over its terms of service, which grant the company extensive rights to access and use user data, including screen captures and keyboard inputs.
Some users reported issues with data retention, such as the inability to delete emails from Instinct's records and the assistant summarizing inboxes even after being disconnected.
Concerns about security were raised when testers found that Instinct could easily access sensitive information, such as sign-up codes from emails, leading to fears of phishing.
Users have highlighted the dilemma of trading privacy for the convenience of personalized AI tools, emphasizing the importance of trust in these interactions.
Despite the criticisms, interest in Instinct and similar AI assistants has been growing, particularly following the launch of other popular AI tools.
The company has not publicly addressed the concerns raised by testers and maintains a low profile while continuing its development.

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Instinct AI Assistant Faces Privacy and Security Concerns During Testing Phase

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