Sesame launches public iOS app for conversational AI agents backed by Sequoia
The startup, which secured a $250 million Series B round, introduces four distinct AI personalities designed to weave live information into dialogue mid-sentence, with intelligent eyewear planned for 2027.
Sesame, a conversational artificial intelligence startup co-founded by former Oculus executives, has released a public preview of its iOS application. The launch marks a significant step for the company, which has been developing its technology for over a year following the VR firm’s acquisition by Meta. The app is currently available for free in 39 countries, with an Android version scheduled for future release.
The application reimagines the standard chatbot experience by prioritising natural dialogue over static text responses. To resolve the inherent tension between response speed and accuracy, Sesame employs fast search and retrieval systems that allow the AI to conduct multiple parallel searches while speaking. This technology enables the agents to weave new, real-time information into their responses mid-sentence, mimicking human conversation patterns where speakers may pivot to add a newly recalled fact.
Users can interact with four distinct AI agents: Maya, Miles, Simone, and Charlie. Each agent possesses a unique voice, personality, point of view, and memory capabilities. Maya and Miles were previously available in a Research Preview, which attracted over one million users within its first few weeks. The broader service is supported by a $250 million Series B funding round led by Sequoia and other investors.
During the beta phase, Sesame incorporated user feedback to introduce several new features. These include search cards with image results for visualising concepts, notes for capturing takeaways, and a texting mode for silent interaction. The company also added support for deep dives to provide more in-depth results and an incognito mode, which allows agents to access prior context without saving data to memory.
The iOS app represents the initial phase of Sesame’s broader strategy, which includes plans for intelligent eyewear expected to launch in 2027. The company indicates that future capabilities will allow agents to take actions on behalf of users, moving beyond simple conversation to perform tasks. While the full experience is free, users may encounter a short waitlist at sign-up due to current demand.
