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Cognition Acquires AI Assistant Poke to Integrate Conversational AI into Devin Coding Agent
Key points
- Cognition acquired AI assistant Poke for a low nine-figure sum.
- Poke's conversational interaction model will be integrated into Cognition's Devin.
- The acquisition aims to enhance Devin's user experience with personality.
- Poke will use Cognition's infrastructure for improved performance.
Cognition Acquires Conversational AI Assistant Poke
Cognition, an AI coding startup, has acquired Poke, an AI assistant developed by The Interaction Company of California. The acquisition was valued in the low nine figures. This strategic move brings Poke's distinctive interaction model and personality to Cognition's AI coding assistant, Devin.
Integrating Personality into AI Tools
The primary goal of this acquisition is to infuse Devin with Poke's conversational and personable AI. Poke is known for engaging with users in a friendly manner, incorporating slang and humor, which Cognition believes will make Devin feel less like a software tool and more like a collaborative colleague. Conversely, Poke will benefit from Cognition's models and infrastructure, aiming for increased speed and reliability.
The Value of AI Personality
The acquisition highlights a growing industry belief that the interaction style of AI assistants is becoming as crucial as their underlying models. Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of The Interaction Company, stated that personality in AI co-workers can make interactions more enjoyable and effective. Cognition co-founder Scott Wu echoed this sentiment, expressing a desire for Devin to be proactive, knowledgeable, and engaging, similar to Poke.
Poke's Background and Usage
Launched in March 2026, Poke allows users to interact with its AI agent across various messaging platforms, including iMessage, SMS, Telegram, and WhatsApp. Users utilize Poke for diverse tasks such as travel planning, health management, finance, scheduling, and education. Productivity tasks, including email management, reminders, and to-dos, are among its most common applications. Over the past three months, Poke users exchanged more than 100 million messages.
Financial Context
Despite its user base of hundreds of thousands, Poke faced challenges in profitability due to high operational costs. Cognition co-founders Scott Wu and Walden Yan were previously angel investors in The Interaction Company, indicating a prior relationship and understanding of Poke's potential.
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Reporting from
AI coding startup Cognition acquired Poke, an AI assistant known for its conversational interaction model, in a deal valued in the low nine figures. This acquisition aims to integrate Poke's personality and user interaction style into Cognition's AI coding assistant, Devin, to make it feel more like a colleague.