Key Takeaways

  • Cognition has acquired Poke, an AI assistant known for its friendly interactions.
  • The acquisition is valued in the low nine figures.
  • Poke will enhance Cognition’s coding assistant, Devin, by adding personality.
  • Poke users exchanged over 100 million messages in the past three months.

Cognition’s Strategic Move

Cognition, an AI coding startup, has made headlines with its acquisition of Poke, the AI assistant that engages users like a friend. This deal, valued in the low nine figures, aims to integrate Poke’s unique interaction model into Cognition’s existing coding assistant, Devin.

Poke’s Unique Interaction Style

Poke stands out for its conversational approach. Unlike traditional tools, it interacts with users in a familiar manner, using humor and slang. This engaging style is expected to enhance Devin’s functionality, making it feel less like software and more like a colleague.

Insights from the Interaction Company

Marvin von Hagen, co-founder of The Interaction Company, emphasized the importance of personality in AI interactions. He noted that users prefer AI that feels relatable, similar to having a co-worker who can share a laugh. This acquisition reflects a growing trend where the way AI assistants communicate is seen as crucial to their value.

Future Developments

Poke, launched in March 2026, allows users to communicate through various messaging platforms, including iMessage and SMS. The assistant is utilized for tasks ranging from travel to finance, with productivity tasks like email management being particularly popular.

Despite its popularity, Poke has faced challenges in profitability. Cognition reported that Poke users sent over 100 million messages in just three months. The acquisition is expected to leverage Cognition’s infrastructure to improve Poke’s reliability and efficiency.

Looking Ahead

For now, Poke will continue operating as usual. However, plans for 2027 include exploring how Poke and Devin can collaborate more effectively. The integration of Cognition’s latest software engineering model could enhance both products, potentially allowing Poke to manage multiple coding tasks simultaneously.

Von Hagen expressed optimism about the future, suggesting that combining the strengths of both Poke and Devin could lead to a more cohesive and enjoyable user experience.