AI Agent Instinct Shows Promise While Raising Security Red Flags

Spear Street Technology's personal AI assistant Instinct is delivering tangible results for early users—saving money, booking reservations, and catching threats—yet the service simultaneously exposes fundamental security risks that demand immediate industry scrutiny. Founded by 23-year-old Noah Shinn, Instinct operates as an invite-only agent that connects to users' email, messaging, calendar, screen, audio, and location data, completing real tasks via text or phone rather than a traditional interface. One early adopter reported that Instinct saved $550 and booked restaurant reservations—achievements that underscore the technology's practical value—while also wasting $64 and exhibiting vulnerabilities that qualify as concerning.