Sesame, the conversational AI startup from Oculus founders, launches its iOS app
Source: TechCrunch
On Thursday, the AI startup Sesame, co‑founded by the original Oculus founders and other veterans from the VR company that was acquired by Meta, released a public preview of the conversational AI agents it has been developing for over a year. With its new iOS app, Sesame is rethinking the traditional chatbot experience popularized by apps like ChatGPT, aiming for conversations that flow naturally even when the AI needs time to think.
Launch announcement
The company explains in its launch announcement:
“There’s an inherent tension between replying quickly and taking the time to compose thoughtful responses. A slower response is usually more correct, but it can also feel unnatural if it takes too long.”
Image credit: Sesame
Technology behind the AI
Sesame says it has built fast search and retrieval systems that keep the AI up‑to‑date, and a parallel‑search architecture that lets the model run multiple searches while speaking. The results are woven into the response in real time, allowing the AI to pivot mid‑sentence—much like a human who remembers an additional fact while talking.
Available agents
The app ships with four distinct AI agents, each with its own voice, personality, point of view, and memory:
- Maya
- Miles
- Simone
- Charlie
Maya and Miles were previously available in Sesame’s Research Preview, where they attracted over a million users within the first few weeks, according to a statement from investor Sequoia at the time of the $250 million Series B raise.
Image credit: Sesame
Beta feedback and new features
During the beta, user feedback drove several additions:
- Search cards with image results for visualizing concepts.
- Notes for capturing takeaways.
- Texting mode for situations where speaking aloud isn’t possible.
- Deep‑dive mode for more in‑depth results.
- Incognito mode for private conversations that retain context during the session but do not persist to memory.
Future roadmap
Sesame’s longer‑term vision includes intelligent eyewear slated for a 2027 launch. Beyond conversation, the agents are expected to take actions on users’ behalf—hence the term “agents” rather than “chatbots.” A natural‑language interface could let users issue commands without having to craft precise prompts, simplifying interaction with agentic tools and apps.
Image credit: Sesame
Availability
The iOS app is live today in 39 countries and is free while in preview, though a short waitlist may appear at sign‑up. An Android preview is planned for the future.